"Whoo!"
Alyssa Valdez exclaimed as she addressed reporters on Tuesday. The Creamline Cool Smashers' straight-set win against the Chery Tiggo Crossovers during the PVL Invitational Conference opener was also the Phenom's return to the pros after suffering a knee injury back in December.
"I'm very, very grateful we got the win. I'm just really lucky na binigyan ako ng pagkakataon na makalaro in this game," she said. "It's been a while."
Valdez scored three points in the match. And more importantly, the team captain showed her return to form with 10 excellent digs.
She admitted the seven-month break is the longest she ever had as a professional player.
While Valdez was fielded during the Southeast Asian Games last month, coach Jorge Souza de Brito gave her limited minutes due to her condition. The veteran national team member played as a service specialist but was given the chance to score the winning spike against Singapore.
What made coach Sherwin Meneses give the green light for Valdez's full return to action was her ability to complete three-hour practices.
Stepping on the court felt like new again.
"Honestly, sabi ko kanina, I don't know how to prepare for a game na," Valdez admitted. "Iba na naman 'yung kaba, iba naman 'yung excitement."
"Para ka na naman akong rookie. I hope to have that mentality as well."
And she was gracious in lauding Chery Tiggo's rookies despite their loss to Creamline.
"Grabe silang mga rookie," Valdez noted. "They really showed [up] today sa first match sa pros."
"Hands down sa rookies, we can't wait na mapuno nila yung arena for Chery Tiggo."
Creamline will immediately return to the court on Thursday, June 29, as the Cool Smashers take on expansion squad Gerflor Defenders at 1:30 p.m.
(With reports from Inna Mina, One Sports Digital)
(CF)