For Alyssa, volley fans the real MVP

MANILA, Philippines – For the smashing time they shared in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Reinforced Conference, crowd darling Alyssa Valdez paid tribute to her horde of fans and offered them her Final MVP plum with her supporters.

The multi-titled Valdez led PLDT Home Ultera to a sweep of Army in their best-of-three championship playoff at The Arena in San Juan last Sunday.

“This is for the fans,” Valdez told a GMA News TV Channel 11 reporter as she jubilantly hoisted and pointed her MVP trophy in the direction of her fans, who came out in full force to support her and the Ultra Fast Hitters against the equally star-studded Lady Troopers. “I’m deeply, deeply grateful for their loyalty and undying support. Win or lose, they’re always behind me.”

The reigning back-to-back UAAP MVP needed only two games to re-display her enormous talent. She sauntered onto the court only at the eleventh hour for Game 1 and helped anchor Home Ultera’s stirring fightback from two-set down to a thrilling five-set win. She sustained her form in Game 2 that saw the Ultra Fast Hitters eke out a four-set win to complete the sweep.

She finished with 25 points in the opener and took the Player of the Game honors in her first-ever appearance in the season-ending conference of the nation’s most popular commercial league in women’s volleyball after sitting out the elims and the semis.

Then drawing solid backup from American guest player Sareea Freeman, Gretchel Soltones and Sue Roces, Valdez scored 22 points in Game 2, bagged the top player honors again and clinched the Finals MVP award, hands down.

“She is a treasure to have as a player,” said Home Ultera coach Roger Gorayeb of prized player. “Despite her superstar stature, she doesn’t give me problems. She always comes on time for practice. She doesn’t want to discuss playing fees even if she’s the only player to date who can fill any venue she plays in.”

Valdez did everything in her power to be able to play in the finals.

Gorayeb said she had actually appeared in Game One in white polo shirt and denim short shorts with her Ateneo Thai coach Tai Bundit while her PLDT teammates were already doing stretching exercises. When told by Valdez that her school had not yet given her the go-signal to play, Gorayeb had calmly pointed out to her that the big crowd almost filling the Arena had paid for tickets primarily to see her play.

Game 1 had started with Valdez nowhere in sight. In the middle of the second set, she had appeared in playing uniform to deafening cheers and screams. Whatever had transpired behind the scene, fans had surmised their idol must have somehow put her foot down this time.

Year 2015 has been a productive season for the partnership between Valdez, Gorayeb and PLDT in the 12th season of the pioneering league. Each has achieved a grand slam of sorts, with Home Ultera winning the Open and Reinforced Conference diadems – with Valdez copping the MVP titles of both events, and Gorayeb posting a first-ever slam of sorts, winning all three, including the Collegiate plum with the National U Lady Bulldogs.

“This has been a banner year for Shakey’s V-League,” said Ricky Palou, president of the organizing Sports Vision. “We are now starting the ground work for a grander and more exciting three-conference 13th season next year.”