Push Admin

Alyssa Valdez reacts to former teammate Ella de Jesus’ challenge

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/entertainment2/09/30/alyssa-valdez-svl.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">The queen of Philippine volleyball Alyssa Valdez joins hands with the reinforcements to promote the season-ending tournament of the Shakey&#x27;s V-League.</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA – “Ells, humanda ka.”These were the words of multi-titled Phenom Alyssa Valdez as a response to the statement of her best friend and former Ateneo Lady Eagle’s teammate Ella de Jesus, who seemed to be challenging her in the forthcoming Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference.But just like De Jesus, the three-time UAAP MVP immediately laughed after saying those words and stressed that they were just both kidding.“Hindi, joke lang,” Valdez told ABS-CBN News after the league’s press conference. “We really just know each other inside and outside of the court so it’s gonna be hard for us and challenging for us na magkakalaban kami for the first time.”Valdez has been tapped by the newly formed Bureau of Customs Transformers in the third and last conference of Shakey’s V-League this year. She left team Bali Pure Water Defenders, which is composed mainly by Lady Eagles’ alumni, including Charo Soriano, Mae Tajima, Amy Ahomiro, Denden Lazaro and De Jesus.Being together during their entire collegiate career highlighted by two UAAP championship trophies, Valdez admitted that it will be a great challenge for them, fighting on opposite sides of the net for the first time.“Dito namin i-cha-challenge &#x27;yung mga sarili namin para hindi namin mabasa ang isa&#x27;t isa. But then again we&#x27;re all good friends outside the court,” Valdez said. “Sana mapigilan namin tumawa sa isa&#x27;t isa inside the court.”More than challenging her former teammates, Valdez bared that she is pushing herself to improve even more, given that she is now playing in a semi-professional league. “Ako as a veteran, kailangan ko i-challenge ‘yung sarili ko to be a better player.”“Iba rin talaga ‘yung nasa collegiate ka at kapag nasa professional league ka. Ngayon after college, you have to make your own time and find time. Hindi na siya kagaya ng college na systematic para maging conditioned ka as an athlete.”Valdez, who reportedly inked a lucrative deal with the Customs, will be joining Rizza Jane Mandapat, Fenela Emnas, Menchie Tubiera, and Michiko Castaneda in the Transformers.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.