IF there's anyone who can rightfully claim as having lifted Philippine volleyball, women's volleyball in particular, to the heavenly heights it now enjoys, that one would be Alyssa Valdez.
But Valdez admits she cannot be here forever. Like any mortal, she has to deal with time, the rigors of competition and - horror of horrors - injuries, which she currently finds herself nursing one for the longest time.
READ: Alyssa's advice to athletes dealing with injury setbacks
Valdez has not played in the PVL since her in-game knee injury late in the 2022 Invitationals.
She tried returning to action a few conferences later, but her injury forced her to again miss the last two tournaments of the 2024 season which saw her Creamline team complete the sport’s first-ever grand slam.
Watching from the sidelines had given Alyssa more time to contemplate her role in the evolving scene of women's volleyball which has continued to soar without her doing a leading role which, perhaps, make her think that it's maybe time to move on.
Age really just a number?
Father Time is admittedly catching up on the 31-year-old Valdez, more so amid her latest injury spell. But the fighter in her tells her that what she is experiencing is just another phase in her storied career.
There’d be pain, there’d be sacrifices, but Valdez knows that if she stays level-headed, be patient and remains focused on regaining her strength and health, there will be more championships ahead.
“I was injured kasi po last year. I’ve been playing for so long, so when I got injured, I felt like, ‘di naman useless, pero somewhat like that. I can’t see myself not doing anything for the sport,” Valdez told broadcast journalist Bernadette Sembrano in her ‘B Happy’ vlog on YouTube.
“I think as athletes kasi, if you’ve been doing it for the longest time, sometimes you feel like the pain is just normal, it’s painful but you can manage. But in the long run, ‘di siya okay kasi nag a-age din tayo. Kaya I have to really balance and check it out muna.
A phenomenal resurgence awaits
Valdez went on to describe a rather eventful year driven by the pursuit of recovery, rehabilitation, and more importantly, reinvention.
“Last year, I had a procedure on my left (knee) but then I also injured my right kasi pasaway nga po ako, sinasabi ko po na, ‘Kaya ko, kaya ko.’ Ang hirap to just stay at home when you’re injured and all. You’re so used to getting out all the time in training.”
Valdez said: “That was my first injury, I’d say, na I kind of stepped back for a while. Pero pasaway po ako so I’ve been really trying to make sure na makalaro ako ulit. Right now, itong last conference nga rin, I took a longer break for it to heal talaga.”
The ‘Phenom,' however, has no doubt that after this trying phase, a stronger and braver Alyssa Valdez will emerge.
“Honestly, I think that's the hardest part po as an athlete. Eventually po kasi, mag-iiba talaga at ang hirap tanggapin na tumatanda talaga. Age is just a number pero I'd say up until now, yun talaga yung tina-try kong i-mindset na paano tanggapin, paano isipin, paano harapin yung bagong challenge and paano kilalanin yung bagong Alyssa.
Alyssa Valdez celebrates being No. 1
“Right now, I'm trying to accept and trying to reinvent myself in such a way na kung sino pa yung Alyssa na mas makikilala ko on and off the court.”
Whether the inevitable end is near or maybe just the start of something new, there’s no denying that there’ll only ever be one ‘Phenom’ to have graced this sport who made it what it is and blazed the trail for all volleyball stars to come.
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