Alyssa Caymo Valdez is a Filipino volleyball player who currently plays for Creamline Cool Smashers. She was a member of the collegiate varsity volleyball team of Ateneo de Manila University in both indoor and beach volleyball. She is a current member of Philippines national team.
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Early life
Alyssa Valdez was raised in San Juan, Batangas, to parents Ruel, who works in an automobile company, and Pablita, a public school teacher. She's the only daughter among four siblings.
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Volleyball career
Youth
She learned how to play volleyball by playing with her two older brothers when she was in elementary school at the age of 10.
Having developed her volleyball skills, she was chosen to play in the Southern Tagalog Athletic Association (STACAA), a regional sports meet for elementary and high school student athletes in the Calabarzon region where she was scouted and recruited by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) to play for their high school varsity volleyball team, the UST Tigress Cubs.
In her first year at the University of Santo Tomas High School, she was selected as a member of the National Capital Region (NCR) team for the Palarong Pambansa, a national sports competition for elementary and secondary students. She was UST's top high school volleyball player who led her team to several championships: three titles in UAAP (Seasons 70-72), and one in National Shakey's Girls' Volleyball League (2009). She was a three-time MVP in UAAP (Season 70-72) and once in Shakey's Girls' Volleyball League (2009).
Collegiate
Alyssa Valdez's student-athlete career reached a higher level during her college years. She ranked multiple individual awards and helped win a couple of championship titles for her college team. She was UAAP's 4-time Best Scorer, 3-time Best Server, 3-time Season's MVP, and one-time Final's MVP.
2010-2011 Though enrolled as a freshman student in Ateneo, Valdez had to serve a one-year residency imposed by the University Athletic Association of the Philippines for transferring from a UAAP school to another. During this time, she competed in the International Federal Beach Volleyball Tournament held in China together with Lady Eagle teammate Bea Tan where they finished 7th. She also played as a guest player for Ateneo in two conferences of Shakey's V-League.
The Shakey's V-League Season 7 2nd Conference marked Alyssa's first game appearance with the Lady Eagles in a tournament, as a guest player. This time, she's not yet part of the 1st six. The following Season (Shakey's V-League Season 8 1st Conference), she joined the team again as a guest player and this time as a starter. Valdez won her first V-League gold medal after they beat the defending champions, the Adamson Lady Falcons, in the finals.
2011-2012 The first ever Open Conference of Shakey's V-League was the first tournament where Valdez played as a regular player for Ateneo. She was one of the top scorers of the team. The Lady Eagles was the only collegiate team to enter the Final 4 and finished in 3rd place.
The Lady Eagles joined the 3rd season of Shakey's V-League Season 8 which is the Southeast Asian Club Invitational League. Valdez led the Lady Eagles in beating the club team from Malaysia in the eliminations. She had 27 points in that game.
After serving the mandatory one-year residency rule, thus making her ineligible for the UAAP Rookie of the Year award, Valdez made it to the Lady Eagles roster in the UAAP Season 74 and joined the veteran players Fille Cainglet, Dzi Gervacio, Gretchen Ho, A Nacachi, and Jem Ferrer or collectively known as the Fab 5. She contributed to the team's offense and helped bring the team to the Finals. Ateneo took Game number 1 of the Finals but failed to beat the DLSU Lady Spikers in the next 2 games. In beach volleyball, together with Bea Tan and Fille Cainglet, they finished 2nd place.
In the 1st Conference of Shakey's V-League Season 9, she received her second V-League gold medal and was named the Finals MVP after they defended their title against the UST Tigresses.
2012-2013 In the Open Conference of Shakey's V-League Season 9, Valdez led the Ateneo team and again, they are the only collegiate team to enter the Final 4. The team got the chance to take the bronze after beating the Philippine Army Lady Troopers in 5 sets in the game 1 of the best-of-three battle for bronze. Unfortunately, due to academic reasons, some key players were absent in Game 2 and Philippine Army easily won the 2nd game in straight sets. Series were no longer extended as the Sandugo Lady Conquerors already won the title.
In UAAP Season 75, Valdez set a record for the most number of points scored in a game. She scored 35 points (31 spikes, 3 blocks and 1 service ace) in the second round elimination game against the Adamson Lady Falcons on January 20, 2013. She surpassed the record of former Lady Eagle Charo Soriano which had a career high of 31 points for Ateneo. In the tournament, the standing record before her record breaking performance was 33 points set by an Adamson Lady Falcon, Angela Benting on February 14, 2009. Valdez was named the Best Scorer of the season. Her scoring prowess helped the Ateneo team land again in the Finals but fell short to the defending champions, the DLSU Lady Spikers.
In the 1st Conference of Shakey's V-League Season 10, Valdez got the Best Server award. They were unsuccessful in defending their title after NU Lady Bulldogs beat them in Game 2 and 3 of the Finals.
2013-2014 In UAAP Season 76, Valdez, together with Bea Tan and Michelle Morente, took the bronze medal in beach volleyball. She became the team captain of the Ateneo women's volleyball team for indoor volleyball. She was named the Best Scorer, Best Server and Season's MVP. She also won the Finals MVP award after beating the defending champions, the DLSU Lady Spikers, which had a thrice to beat advantage. Valdez was the first female volleyball athlete to win four awards in one UAAP season.
Valdez got the Best Scorer Award again but this time, in Shakey's V-League (11th Season Open Conference). She set a record for the most number of points scored in the entire conference with total of 342 points. The previous record set was 314 coming from Jaroensri Bualee.
2014-2015 Valdez led the Ateneo women's volleyball team, which represented the Philippines, in the 2014 ASEAN University Games held in Palembang, Indonesia and took home the Bronze. That was the first international medal of Valdez.
In UAAP Season 77, Valdez tallied 312 points outscoring her previous season's finish. She was again awarded the Season's MVP, Best Server, and Best Scorer. They successfully defended their title against archrival DLSU Lady Spikers. They finished the season with 16-0 sweep.
In the collegiate conference of Shakey's V-League Season 12, Valdez scored a conference-high 32 points from 26 spikes, one block and five service aces against the CSB Lady Blazers during the elimination round. She was named the 1st Best Outside Spiker and Conference MVP.
After being a reserve last UAAP Season 77, Valdez returned to beach volleyball together with Bea Tan and Jhoana Maraguinot for season 78. They finished the season in second place after falling to DLSU Lady Spikers. 2015 was one of Alyssa's most fruitful years.
Club career
Smart-Maynilad Net Spikers
Valdez surprised the volleyball community when she joined the Smart-Maynilad team in the quarterfinal round of the 2013 Shakey's V-League Season 10 Open Conference. She missed elimination round games due to her commitment with Ateneo in the UAAP beach volleyball. She got the Fittest Player of the Conference special award from one of the conference's sponsors.
PLDT Ultra Fast Hitters
Valdez joined the PLDT Home Ultera Ultra Fast Hitters club team under Coach Roger Gorayeb for Shakey's V-League Season 12 Open Conference. She matched her UAAP record, scoring 35 points from 33 attacks and 2 aces against the Philippine Army Lady Troopers in the semifinal round. She was awarded the 1st Best Outside Spiker and the Conference Most Valuable Player. Valdez won her third Championship medal in Shakey's V-League after PLDT swept the Philippine Army Lady Troopers in the Finals.
In the reinforced conference of Shakey's V-League Season 12, Valdez returned to the PLDT team on game 1 of the finals scoring 25 points from 22 attacks, 2 aces, and 1 block against the Philippine Army Lady Troopers. The team swept the finals and Valdez won her fourth Championship medal and her second Finals Most Valuable Player award in Shakey's V-League.
BaliPure Purest Water Defenders
After her UAAP career, Valdez joined the BaliPure Purest Water Defenders for the Shakey's V-League Season 13 Open Conference in a team mostly composed of former Ateneo de Manila Lady Eagles. They won the third place in the Conference.
Bureau of Customs Transformers
Valdez transferred to the Bureau of Customs Transformers a volleyball team competing in the 13th Shakey's V-League Reinforced Conference, they have a 5-2 record in the Elimination Round. They won against UP, Laoag, UST, Coast Guard and Air Force but lost against Pocari Sweat and Bali Pure. With this 5-2 record the team got the third semifinals slot competing against bali pure and they successfully made it to the finals facing Pocari Sweat lady warriors battling for championship. In the end, they failed which resulted them to 1st runner up only.
3BB Nakornnont
Thai club, 3BB Nakornnont, announced on December 24, 2016 that they have signed up Valdez to play for them. She was to debut for 3BB Nakornnont on January 29, 2017 in her club's win over King-Bangkok but was forced to skipped a match after only receiving her International Transfer Certificate hours before the match. She debuted for her club a almost a week later on February 4, 2017 in a match against Bangkok Glass where her team loss all three sets.
Creamline Cool Smashers
For the 2017 season of the Premier Volleyball League, Valdez joined the expansion team, the Creamline Cool Smashers.
International
Valdez played for the Philippines women's national volleyball team at both the youth and senior levels.
Youth
Valdez led the eight placer Youth 16-Under Girls' Philippines National Volleyball Team in the 2008 Asian Youth Championship held in Pasig, Philippines. In 2013, she became a member of Philippines National Volleyball Team.
She was appointed the team captain of the Philippine team for the 2015 Asian U23 Championship.
Senior
Valdez was a member of the Philippine National team that finished in third place in the 2014 FIVB Southeast Asian Zone Qualifier held in Quang Tri, Vietnam.
In the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, she was assigned to carry the Philippine flag on the traditional parade of nations held in Singapore.
Awards
Individuals
- 2007 Most Valuable Player - UAAP Season 70
- 2008 Best Attacker - Shakey's Girls Volleyball League (NCR)
- 2008 Most Valuable Player - UAAP Season 71
- 2008 Athlete of the Year - UAAP Season 71
- 2009 Most Valuable Player - Shakey's Girls Volleyball League (NCR)
- 2009 Best Attacker - Shakey's Girls Volleyball League (NCR)
- 2009 Best Attacker - Shakey's Girls Volleyball League (National)
- 2009 Most Valuable Player - UAAP Season 72
- 2009 Best Attacker - UAAP Season 72
- 2010 Best Attacker - Shakey's Girls Volleyball League (NCR)'
- 2010 Best Attacker - Shakey's Girls Volleyball League (National)
- 2012 Finals MVP - Shakey's V-League Season 9 1st Conference
- 2013 Best scorer - UAAP Season 75
- 2013 Best Server - 2013 Shakey's V-League Season 10 1st Conference
- 2014 Finals MVP - UAAP Season 76
- 2014 Season's MVP - UAAP Season 76
- 2014 Best Scorer - UAAP Season 76
- 2014 Best Server - UAAP Season 76
- 2014 Best Server - 2014 Shakey's V-League Season 11 Open Conference
- 2015 Season's MVP - UAAP Season 77
- 2015 Best Scorer - UAAP Season 77
- 2015 Best Server - UAAP Season 77
- 2015 Conference MVP - 2015 Shakey's V-League Season 12 Open Conference
- 2015 1st Best Outside Spiker - 2015 Shakey's V-League Season 12 Open Conference
- 2015 Conference Most Valuable Player - 2015 Shakey's V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference
- 2015 1st Best Outside Spiker - 2015 Shakey's V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference
- 2015 Finals MVP - 2015 Shakey's V-League Season 12 Reinforced Conference
- 2016 Athlete of the Year - UAAP Season 78
- 2016 Season's MVP - UAAP Season 78
- 2016 Best Scorer - UAAP Season 78
- 2016 Best Server - UAAP Season 78
- 2016 1st Best Outside Spiker - 2016 Shakey's V-League Season 13 Open Conference
- 2016 1st Best Outside Spiker - 2016 Shakey's V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference
- 2016 Conference MVP - 2016 Shakey's V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference
- 2017 Conference MVP - 2017 Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Reinforced Open Conference
- 2017 1st Best Outside Spiker - 2017 Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Reinforced Open Conference
Special Recognitions (from recent to past)
- Most Popular Sports Personality (Push Awards 2016)
- Fudgee Barr O-Barr Sa Galing Player of the Season
- Ten Sports Heroes of 2015: Sportsmen Who Change The Game (Spin.ph)
- Miss Volleyball 2015 (Philippine Sportswriters Association)
- Lifestyle's 29 Bright and Beautiful (Philippine Star)
- Miss Volleyball 2014 (Philippine Sportswriters Association)
- Female Athlete of the Year (Best of 2014 PExers Choice Awards)
- Woman of Style and Substance (People Asia 2014)
- Volleywood World Female Idol 2013 1st Runner Up (Volleywood.net)
- Miss Volleyball 2013 (Philippine Sportswriters Association)
- Best Pinoy Athlete (Rappler Social Media Awards: Best Of 2013)
- BioFit Tea Fittest Player of the Conference (Shakey's V-League 10th Season Open Conference)
- Flag Bearer of the Philippines at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games
University Team
- 2012 Shakey's V-League 9th Season 1st Conference - Champions, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
- 2012 UAAP Season 74 volleyball tournaments - Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
- 2013 UAAP Season 75 volleyball tournaments - Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
- 2014 UAAP Season 76 volleyball tournaments - Champions, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
- 2015 UAAP Season 77 volleyball tournaments - Champions, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
- 2015 Shakey's V-League 12th Season Collegiate Conference - Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
- 2016 UAAP Season 78 volleyball tournaments - Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
Club Team
- 2013 Shakey's V-League 10th Season Open Conference - Silver medal, with Smart-Maynilad Net Spikers
- 2015 Shakey's V-League 12th Season Open Conference - Champions, with PLDT Home Ultera Ultra Fast Hitters
- 2015 Shakey's V-League 12th Season Reinforced Open Conference - Champions, with PLDT Home Ultera Ultra Fast Hitters
- 2016 Shakey's V-League 13th Season Open Conference - Bronze medal, with BaliPure Purest Water Defenders
- 2016 Shakey's V-League 13th Season Reinforced Open Conference - Silver medal, with Bureau of Customs Transformers
- 2017 Thai-Denmark Super League - Bronze medal, with 3BB Nakornnont
- 2017 Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Reinforced Open Conference - Bronze medal, with Creamline Cool Smashers
International Team
- 2014 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship qualification (AVC) - Bronze medal, with Team Philippines
- 2014 2014 ASEAN University Games - Bronze medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
- 2016 2016 ASEAN University Games - Bronze medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
In popular media
Valdez appeared in Digital 5's online reality show Phenoms together with basketball player Kiefer Ravena. She finished her undergraduate degree major in Psychology in 2015 and is now working on her master's degree in Communications. She is also considered as the most followed volleyball player on Twitter with 850K+ followers. Her Instagram account has 1 million followers.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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