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Asian Games: Alyssa Valdez missed playing in front of a big crowd

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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/2018/news/08/26/20180826_alyssa.jpg"/><figcaption>Alyssa Valdes spikes the ball against Indonesia during the women&#x27;s group A preliminary volleyball match between Indonesia and Philippines at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Juni Kriswanto, AFP</figcaption></figure></div>JAKARTA -- At the height of her collegiate career with the Ateneo Lady Eagles, Alyssa Valdez used to play in packed arenas -- including 20,000-strong crowds during the UAAP finals.She still plays in front of respectable crowds now, but they could not compare to the audience that packed the Indoor Tennis Center at the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex on Saturday where Valdez and the rest of Team Philippines faced off against the host country, Indonesia.For sheer numbers they could not match the crowds that watched the Ateneo de Manila University-De La Salle University finals in the UAAP, but the noise they made and the passion they brought evoked memories of those hard-fought games.&quot;’Yung crowd, alam mo nakaka-miss nga eh,” Valdez admitted. “Masaya talagang naglalaro ng marami ang crowd. Iba talaga sa pakiramdam.”This crowd, however, was different. Back in her collegiate days, and even now as a club player, Valdez enjoyed the support of majority of the crowd. On Saturday night in Jakarta, the fans were very much rooting for their opponents.The Indonesians at the venue chanted all game long for Aprilia Manganang, and cheered wildly for the incredible jump serve of Amalia Fajrina.There were Filipinos in attendance as well, and they made their presence felt, but there was no doubt that majority of the crowd was pro-Indonesia.“Ito, it’s the other way around -- sila naman ‘yung chini-cheer,” said Valdez.With their fans applauding their every move, Indonesia claimed a 25-20, 25-20, 24-26, 25-22 triumph over the Filipinas.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/volleyball/news/2018/08/25/asian-games-manganang-punishes-phi-indonesia-win-46049">READ: Manganang punishes PH in Indonesia win</a></li></ul>Still, the crowd was not entirely hostile. Setter Jia Morado said that everyone in the team is used to playing in front of boisterous audiences, and Valdez said she felt the support not just of the Filipinos, but even of the Indonesian fans during the game.“Nakakatuwa pa rin, naa-appreciate kasi nung crowd din kung, I mean, every point ng match, hindi lang sa Indonesia but pati &#x27;yung mga palo din natin na galing sa Pilipinas,” she said.“So nakakatuwa, and nakakabigay din ng extra energy and motivation also, para maglaro ka at siyempre bigyan ng magandang laro ang Indonesia para mas malakas ang sigaw ng crowd,” she added.The Filipinos in attendance made sure to show their support for the volleyball players after the game, waiting for the team outside the venue -- just as fans in the Philippines would do so after matches in the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">Sports website.</a>

The Indonesians at the venue chanted all game long for Aprilia Manganang, and cheered wildly for the incredible jump serve of Amalia Fajrina.

The Indonesians at the venue chanted all game long for Aprilia Manganang, and cheered wildly for the incredible jump serve of Amalia Fajrina.

Asian Games: Alyssa Valdez missed playing in front of a big crowd

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Asian Games: Alyssa Valdez missed playing in front of a big crowd

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2018 08:00 AM PHT

Read More:

Asian Games

Alyssa Valdez

volleyball

Indonesia

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