Alyssa Valdez ecstatic for Philippine volleyball team return

MANILA, Philippines — Volleyball royalty Alyssa Valdez is looking forward to her return to the national team, which will start training in Brazil next month in preparation for the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games slated May 12 to 23.

“I always say it’s really one of my dreams to represent our country and I’m excited to do anything for the team and the role that our coach will give me,” said Valdez during Saturday’s interview with Noli Eala at One PH’s Power and Play.

Valdez, a former national team skipper and SEA Games flag-bearer, is expected to be part of the 14-member national women’s squad the PNVF will submit to the Philippine Olympic Committee before the March 12 entry-by-name deadline in the biennial meet.

Initially, Valdez was not in the national team roster when the PNVF selected the players last year but made it to the squad in January this year after the college players who were originally in the pack were dropped due to conflict of schedule.

Valdez and the 13 other players who will be enlisted to Hanoi will join in the Brazil training slated April 12 to 26, or days after the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference ends.

Valdez and the all-pro squad will use their stints with their mother clubs in the PVL as part of their training for the SEA Games.

Kalei Mau, Jia Morado, Dawn Macandili, Dindin Manabat, Jasmin Nabor, Kianna Dy, Mylene Paat, Kat Tolentino, Deanna Wong, Kath Arado and Riri Meneses are among those tipped to make the team, assuming they are available.