CANDON CITY — The PVL All-Star Game delivered exactly what it promised: a mix of high-level competition and pure entertainment.
But it was the closing moments that turned it into something more.
READ: Team Heart proves as good as advertised in PVL All-Star Game
With Team Heart already in control late in the fourth set, the game took a playful turn when a linesman stepped up to serve for Team Hustle. He missed on the first try, but with encouragement from the players, was given another chance and got it in.
Not to be outdone, Team Heart created a moment of its own.
Instead of letting one of its stars finish the match, the team called in Jhyson Manzano, a fan from the sidelines. After an initial miss, he got another shot and delivered, firing a clean crosscourt hit that sealed the win.
For Alyssa Valdez, those moments went beyond just fun, as they captured what the entire week was about: a celebration of the sport, and everyone on and off the court who continue to elevate it to where it is today.
“Lahat kasi ng nandito, all part of the community, so we want to give also credit to all of them. We want to give that lineup (spot) sa mga nasa likod ng camera ngayon, na part din kayo ng community,” she said.
“Again and again and again, maraming salamat sa inyo. I think, at the end of the day, we’ll just celebrate volleyball today, everyone na parte ng volleyball."
In a game filled with stars, it was the shared spotlight that shone brightest of all, serving as reminder that volleyball is bigger than just playing on the court.
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