Photo: PVL

By Nate Castillo

A new-look Alas Pilipinas puts a premium on experience and strong leadership by tapping old guards led by battle-hardened veteran Alyssa Valdez.

The Creamline skipper is making a comeback to the national squad after three years, as Valdez heeded the call for another tour of duty for the upcoming AVC Women's Cup Volleyball Cup in Candon, Ilocos Sur, next month.  

“I will never get tired of representing the country. Hopefully, we can help in our own little ways,” Valdez said on Wednesday breaking her silence after days of speculations about her donning the tricolor for the prestigious continental tilt slated June 6 to 14.   

But Valdez won’t be alone as other former national team players Ces Molina of Farm Fresh, Jovelyn Gonzaga of ZUS Coffee, Myla Pablo of Nxled and Kyla Atienza of Creamline are expected to get their clearance from their respective clubs to join Alas.

Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour MVP Erika Santos of Capital1 is also waiting for her club’s greenlight to hook up with Alas.

The national squad, now handled by interim head coach Shaq Delos Santos following Thai tactician Tai Bundit’s ankle injury, which he sustained in a road mishap, has overhauled its lineup after the last batch of Alas roster withdrew from participating due to various reasons.  

Valdez, a former national squad team captain and two-time Southeast Asian Games flagbearer, last played for Alas back in the 2023 edition of the biennial meet.

“Alyssa will always be Alyssa. Her love for volleyball has always been there, whether she is playing for her university, club team, or country. She is so happy that she now gets to play with young players who have long looked up to her,” said Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Tonyboy Liao.

Multi-awarded opposite spiker Trisha Tubu of Farm Fresh and Jules Tolentino of Nxled are also joining alongside young bloods Tin Ubaldo, Jaz Ellarina and Cla Loresco, the only holdover from last year’s Alas squad, of Far Eastern University, Nina Ytang of University of the Philippines, Lhoriz Tudao of Adamson University and Letran’s Natalie Estreller and Lara Silva.    

“I’m happy to be surrounded by young talented girls and hopefully we get more. I hope we can work together to support these girls because we are very grateful and they need the support,” added the 32-year-old Valdez, who has been a regular fixture for the Philippine team since her 2008 stint with the girls’ national squad.