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PVL: Alyssa still learning to be composed in crunch time

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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/news/06/01/pvl-2017-060717.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Creamline&#x27;s Alyssa Valdez scored 15 points in Game 2 of their best-of-3 semis series against Bali Pure. <cite>Richard Esguerra, <a href="link" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports</a></cite></div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Even with imports Kuttika Kaewpin and Laura Schaudt both putting on solid performances, there was never any doubt as to whom Creamline will go to with the game on the line against Bali Pure last Tuesday.The Cool Smashers squandered a 9-5 lead in the fifth set against the Water Defenders, with Bali Pure import Jennifer Keddy tying the set at 13 through a kill block against Kaewpin.With their season on the line, Creamline went to Alyssa Valdez, only for the former Ateneo de Manila University superstar to send her attack right into the waiting arms of Keddy, who promptly sent the ball back to the Cool Smashers&#x27; side of the court.Keddy&#x27;s block – her seventh of the match – gave Bali Pure a 14-13 lead, putting them one point away from advancing to the Finals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference.&quot;Andiyan naman si Alyssa,&quot; Creamline assistant coach Sherwin Meneses would say after the game. &quot;Sabi ko sa kanya, &#x27;Ly, dalhin mo &#x27;yung team mo &#x27;pag ganyan.&quot;[Alyssa is still there, and I told her to lift her team up in those kinds of situations.]Creamline stayed alive, thanks to Kaewpin&#x27;s backrow kill, and Valdez made up for her earlier shortcoming by firing a sharp attack through Keddy to put the Cool Smashers at match point, 15-14. It was only Valdez&#x27;s 15th point of the game, but it came at a crucial time for the team.&quot;Kahit na-block siya, andoon pa rin &#x27;yung point niya [Even after she got blocked, she still came up with a point],&quot; Meneses said.Valdez then teamed up with Pau Soriano at the net to deny Keddy&#x27;s final attack, and allow Creamline to complete a five-set win that forced a do-or-die Game 3 in their semifinals series against Bali Pure.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li>READ: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/pvl/news/2017/06/06/cool-smashers-tie-series-stay-hunt-finals-spot-26989">Cool Smashers tie series, stay in the hunt for a Finals spot</a></li></ul>&quot;Grabe &#x27;yung breaks of the game,&quot; Valdez said afterward. &quot;Hindi mo alam kung kanino pupunta. Kahit nanalo kami ng mga sets sa kanila, they&#x27;re gonna come back super strong pa rin, lalo na &#x27;yung import nila, si Keddy.&quot;[We didn&#x27;t really know who will get the breaks of the game in the end. Even if we won a set against them, they came back strong thanks to their import.]Valdez is obviously used to receiving the ball in crunch time. After all, for five seasons she was the No. 1 option for the Ateneo Lady Eagles, and she led them to five straight UAAP Finals appearances and two championships.&quot;The first thing that you will think in that kind of situation is, siyempre gusto mong hingin talaga &#x27;yung bola, at gusto mo patayin &#x27;yung bola, kasi gusto mo siyempre manalo din &#x27;yung team,&quot; Valdez said of her mindset when it comes to crunch time.[In that kind of situation, you really want to ask for the ball and get a kill, because you want your team to win.]Yet Valdez admits that even she is still learning how to be a better player in crunch time, despite her long history of coming up with big-time kills in crucial moments, both for Ateneo and for the various club teams she has played in.&quot;Kung sa maturity rin, you really have to compose yourself, and &#x27;yun &#x27;yung patuloy ko pang pinag-aaralan,&quot; she said.&quot;Ako, as a player din, you really have to compose yourself and relax, and it will fall into place kung mangyayari rin talaga,&quot; she explained.[I&#x27;m still learning how to be mature and composed in crunch time situations. As a player, you have to compose yourself and relax, and it will fall into place if it&#x27;s meant to happen.]Thanks in part to Valdez&#x27;s crunch time heroics, Creamline forced a rubber match in their best-of-3 series, and she stressed that they will have to play much better in Thursday&#x27;s Game 3 if they hope to march to the Finals.&quot;Tinyaga lang namin ngayon,&quot; she said. &quot;It&#x27;s really patience that won this game, and sana, madala namin siya sa next game pa namin. Ang dami pa naming kailangan.&quot;&quot;Sana lang, ma-maintain namin ang composure namin as a team. &#x27;Yun &#x27;yung important thing siguro,&quot; she added.[We worked hard for this. It was our patience that won us this game, and we hope we can bring that to our next game. I just hope we can maintain our composure.]For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank"> ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Even with imports Kuttika Kaewpin and Laura Schaudt both putting on solid performances, there was never any doubt as to whom Creamline will go to with the game on the line against Bali Pure last Tuesday.

Even with imports Kuttika Kaewpin and Laura Schaudt both putting on solid performances, there was never any doubt as to whom Creamline will go to with the game on the line against Bali Pure last Tuesday.

PVL: Alyssa still learning to be composed in crunch time

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PVL: Alyssa still learning to be composed in crunch time

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 07, 2017 05:24 PM PHT

Read More:

Premier Volleyball League

PVL

Alyssa Valdez

Creamline Cool Smashers

Bali Pure Water Defenders

volleyball

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