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Lessons learned for NU's Valdez after 'silent suspension'

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/03/23/gayle-valdez.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">NU libero Gayle Valdez. <cite>Arvin Lim, ABS-CBN Sports</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – National University (NU) libero Gayle Valdez kept her head up after a difficult week that saw her and fellow defensive specialist Joni Chavez &quot;suspended&quot; following a series of poor performances for the Lady Bulldogs.NU head coach Roger Gorayeb opted not to use either libero in the final two sets of their four-set victory over University of the East on Sunday. He again kept his liberos stuck in the reserve box for the first three sets of their match against Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday, rolling the dice with middle blockers Jaja Santiago and Risa Sato instead.Valdez finally saw playing time late in the fourth set, when Gorayeb sent her in place of Audrey Paran, who was responsible for giving up five service aces to the Lady Eagles. The libero only played in two rallies in the fourth frame, but played for most of the fifth set to help the Lady Bulldogs hack out the tough win.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2017/03/22/nu-halts-ateneo-s-winning-run-improves-final-four-bid-23628">READ: NU halts Ateneo&#x27;s winning run, improves Final Four bid</a></li></ul>&quot;Kailangan po talaga naming mag-step up para makatulong sa team,&quot; said Valdez, who had six excellent digs in her abbreviated appearance. &quot;&#x27;Yun &#x27;yung pinaka-lesson, para makita namin kung gaano ka-importante &#x27;yung roles namin.&quot;(We really need to step up so we can help the team. That was the lesson, so that we could see how important our roles are.)According to Gorayeb, he placed both liberos in a <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/22/17/uaap-volleyball-nu-coach-gorayeb-stands-by-silent-suspension-of-liberos" target="_blank">&quot;silent suspension&quot;</a> in the days leading up to the game against Ateneo, and practiced as though they will not need their defensive specialists. The only reason he sent Valdez in was that their leads were disappearing due to poor receptions from players like Paran and Sato.Despite being benched for three sets, Valdez remained ready to contribute the moment she entered the court.&quot;Siyempre, pag pinasok ulit kami, kailangan gawin namin &#x27;yung pinaka-best namin, kasi kailangang-kailangan kami ng team,&quot; she said.(When we&#x27;re sent in, we have to do our best because the team needs us.)Gorayeb has often criticized his players for not having enough faith in themselves and dwelling too much on mistakes, and Valdez said she kept this in mind when she finally got the go-signal from her coach late in the fourth.&quot;Tiwala sa sarili,&quot; she said of her mindset. &quot;Then, &#x27;yung mga teammates ko, pinu-push naman ako para ma-boost din &#x27;yung confidence ko.&quot;&quot;Wala naman pong pressure. Kailangan ko lang patunayan na karapat-dapat ako sa role,&quot; she also said.(I just believed in myself, and my teammates boosted my confidence. I didn&#x27;t feel pressure. I just had to prove that I can do my role.)Gorayeb has made it clear that he will not hesitate to impose another suspension on his liberos should they continue to underperform. The Lady Bulldogs rank dead last in the league in receiving and digging, and Valdez knows she has to change her mindset if she hopes to contribute more to her team.&quot;Kailangan, &#x27;yung positive lang palagi, at kailangan mag-sink in na sa akin na kailangang-kailangan na ako ng team, at malaki talaga ang role ko sa team,&quot; she said.(I have to think positively, and I have to accept that my team needs me because I have a big role in the team.)NU returns to action on Sunday against University of the Philippines.<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports</a> website.</div>

NU libero Gayle Valdez kept her head up after a difficult week that saw her and fellow defensive specialist Joni Chavez "suspended" following a series of poor performances for the Lady Bulldogs.

NU libero Gayle Valdez kept her head up after a difficult week that saw her and fellow defensive specialist Joni Chavez "suspended" following a series of poor performances for the Lady Bulldogs.

Lessons learned for NU's Valdez after 'silent suspension'

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Lessons learned for NU's Valdez after 'silent suspension'

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 23, 2017 11:39 AM PHT

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