STANDING at the forefront of the storied Ateneo-La Salle rivalry at its peak over a decade ago was no other than Blue Eagles - then known as the Lady Eagles - legend Alyssa Valdez.
'The Phenom' not only gave new life to a once-embattled Ateneo team, but through those instant classics over a six-year stretch from UAAP Seasons 74 to 79, Philippine volleyball emerged as must-see TV.
Valdez’ iconic battles during the blue-and-white's back-to-back title runs from Seasons 76 to 77 were among some of the school, the league, and the sport’s centerpiece moments over the years.
Looking back, she only had just one word to describe the force that is the Lady Spikers — ‘intimidating.’
“La Salle was very intimidating during those times, up until now. I guess, hanggang ngayon, na-sustain talaga nila yung grit nila and dominance nila in the volleyball community,” Valdez told SPIN.ph.
Twelve-time UAAP champion coach Ramil de Jesus previously credited Valdez as the rivalry’s heart and soul at its prime, even admitting how the La Salle defense was ‘Valdez-centered’ more than anything.
READ: RDJ gives blunt take on La Salle's one-sided rivalry with Ateneo
Humble as she has always been, however, she refused to take sole credit in leading a one-of-a-kind Blue Eagles renaissance.
“Coach Ramil said na it (rivalry) was focused only on me, but I beg to disagree. My teammates (were) working hard during those times — Jia [de Guzman], Den [Lazaro-Revilla], Ella [de Jesus], Amy Ahomiro, I'll name everyone,” Valdez said.
“But I think the point of coach Ramil was how now, the ball is well-distributed. It's much harder for them to defend or to read the Ateneo Lady Eagles (current team)."
Indeed, the Ateneo of today features a 1-2 punch of Lyann de Guzman and AC Miner, as well as promising youngsters in Jihan Chuatico and Zey Pacia, with Taks Fujimoto orchestrating the all-out assault.
Ateneo-La Salle in PVL?
While her Creamline team has had a few fierce foes amid its dominant eight-year, 10-title run to date, for Valdez, nothing will ever beat blue-versus-green at its peak.
“Nakaka-miss din talaga yung mga ganung rivalry. In the PVL, parang lahat ng mga kalaban namin, may rivalry, pero it's kind of different pa rin,” Valdez said.
“But you know, we gotta move forward pero ang masasabi ko lang, the La Salle team back then, up until now, they're very intimidating.”
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