Valdez keys PLDT’s Shakey’s title sweep
Alyssa Valdez made sure she would end a busy but memorable year with another outstanding performance. Shrugging off a sore knee, Valdez came through when it mattered most as PLDT Home Ultera turned back Army, 25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, yesterday to capture the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Reinforced Conference in front of a big crowd at The Arena in San Juan.
The popular Ateneo star came back after hurting her right knee midway in the fourth set and made key hits that paved the way for the Ultra Fast Hitters’ grand sweep of their best-ofthree title series.
Valdez finished with 22 points, three shy of matching her output during the team’s 16-25, 20-25, 26-24, 29-27, 18-16 thriller in Game 1, to earn the nod as the Finals Most Valuable Player.
The latest achievement enhanced what was a great 2015 for Valdez, who aside leading PLDT to two titles in the league, carried Ateneo to a second straight UAAP championship also by a sweep.
Valdez also donned the national colors during the Asian U-23 Championship and the Southeast Asian Games – a testament to her status as the hardest hitter in the country today.
“Helping the team win the championship is my goal above everything else,” said Valdez, who will now turn her attention on Ateneo’s quest for a three-peat in the UAAP following the Christmas break.
Valdez injured her knee with the score tied at 13-all in the fourth after hitting the head of teammate Sue Roces but returned after a quick check from the medical staff to help teammates Rubie de Leon, Gretchel Soltones, Rysabelle Devanadera and imports Victoria Hurtt and Sareea Freeman finish the job.
“I kept asking her if she’s okay at every point. And she told me, she is,” said PLDT coach Roger Gorayeb of Valdez.
Gorayeb also ended the year on a superb note, becoming the first VLeague coach to win all three titles during the year, having steered PLDT to the Open Conference championship and National University to the Collegiate Conference title.
Earlier, University of the Philippines downed Navy, 25-20, 24-26, 25-23, 25-15, to finish the tournament in third place following a sweep of their own best-of-three duel.
The podium finish gave the Lady Maroons the much-needed boost before the UAAP season kicks off in the first quarter of 2016.
– Jonas Terrado