By NIKOLE JAVIER
Alyssa Valdez has no timetable for her return to court as the Creamline Cool Smashers gear up for their 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference title defense.
The national team skipper hasn’t regained her full health back after suffering a right knee injury during Creamline’s battle for third match against Chery Tiggo last December.
After being helped off the court and brought to the hospital, the star spiker was relieved the injury required no necessary surgery and she's just taking her time with the recovery.
“Honestly, sabi naman ng mga doctors and PTs, I’ve been really recovering well. So, the timeline hindi rin siya sure. They want me to get back 100% na hindi rin nagmamadali, so hopefully talgaa. I’m really praying na I’ll see you guys on court this All-FIlipino,” said Valdez.
“I’m very very glad na hindi kailangan ng surgery after the MRI. After the game, I went to the hospital right away and right after nabigyan na rin talaga ng assessment. And good thing na mas mabilis din iyong pagbalik if there’s no open surgery.”
Not only was the three-time PVL MVP unaccustomed to missing games, but her recovery has been quite emotional at the sidelines that made every step she took since the injury worth celebrating.
Despite being out indefinitely, Valdez revealed that being sidelined by the injury has made her see volleyball “in a different perspective.”
Sticking to optimism, the 29-year-old is hoping her recovery comes just in time before the round-robin elimination wraps up to help tow Creamline back to another finals appearance.
Valdez is also hoping to suit up for the country in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia this May.
Despite her absence, Valdez has no doubt in mind that Creamline will clear the stage for the finale and keep its All-Filipino title in hands.
“I think the expectation will always be higher and with this kind of pressure naman I believe ever since also from last year when I had dengue everyone stepped up, so I’m not really scared also or I’m very much confident with this na talagang magbibigay sila ng magandang laban this conference,” she concluded.