Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima. PVL photo
Valdez: AVC serves as stepping stone
DESPITE the early exit in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Champions League, Alyssa Valdez believes that the continental club tournament loss can serve as a stepping stone— especially after Creamline also fell short in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Finals.
The Cool Smashers were eliminated following a lopsided 15-25, 22-25, 16-25 quarterfinal defeat to Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima on Thursday night.
“This one, iba pagbuo rin yung sistema ng kalaban mo, and we really take that. It was a hard loss for us, pero alam mo, doon ka lang din titibay talaga,” said Valdez.
“Sana, ‘yon yung panghahawakan namin sa mga next tournament namin, may it be here in the Philippines representing Creamline, or representing the Philippines. Kung saan ‘man, sana pagtibayan kami nito. Hopefully, madala namin ito even after the loss in the PVL. Magandang experience ito for all of us,” she added.
PLDT also bower out of contention in the following a 13-25, 22-25, 20-25 loss to Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu.
Instead of grumbling with the elimination, Valdez highlighted a silver lining: the invaluable experience the Cool Smashers gained.
“Honestly, nakakatuwa lang din kasi kahit papaano, bago yung mga imports, we tried to adjust and hopefully next time, mas ready and mas pulido na yung paghanda namin para sa AVC. We have nothing to lose, but everything to gain in this tournament,” Valdez said.
“I guess one thing that we appreciate from this tournament, iba rin makipaglaro sa ibang teams, sa iba’t-ibang sistema. Na-challenge and na-push din talaga yung sistema namin. Doon mo rin makikita kung ano ba yung mga things to improve namin, individually and as a team. It’s quite a good experience to go outside of your comfort zone every once in a while,” she added.
Vietnam’s VTV Binh Dien Long An defeated Chinese Taipei’s Taipower, 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 28-26, yesterday to secure one of the two semifinal berths at stake.
PetroGazz, the last Philippine club standing, is battling China’s Baic Motor for the last spot as of press time.
