AT age 32, Alyssa Valdez remains to be Creamline’s anchor and championship constant.
Valdez, however, saw limited action for Creamline in the best-of-three championship series of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, but her steady leadership propelled the “Pink Squad” to another champion, their 11th overall in the league.
The Cool Smashers took down the Cignal Super Spikers in Game 2 on Thursday, 25–23, 22–25, 25–16, 16–25, 15–11, to sweep the finals series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
In all of Creamline’s PVL championships, Valdez has celebrated with the team and in her colorful volleyball career which started during her college days with Ateneo de Manila University, the player popularly known as “The Phenom” has captivated the fans and helped make volleyball a popular sport in the Philippines.
“I just really want to enjoy playing volleyball. At this point in my career, I want to prove — not to other people, but to myself — that I’m here because I still want it and I still have it,” she told the media while wearing her latest gold medal and the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference championship shirt.
Valdez did not score in Game 2, but when Creamline was up by 14-11, she was the one called out by head coach Sherwin Meneses to serve the ball.
The crowd, most of whom are Creamline fanatics, erupted in deafening cheers when Valdez walked towards the service line.
Valdez, composed and focused, sent the ball to Tin Tiamzon and libero Dawn Candili, messing up Cignal’s first ball. It prompted Gel Cayuna to set it quickly to Vanie Gandler, making the play predictable.
Creamline’s wall Tots Carlos and Bea de Leon guarded the net and fended the attempt of Gandler to wrap up the series and claim the title.
“Honestly, MG (Michel Gumabao), and I were just talking about it earlier — we’re just very blessed that we’re still part of the volleyball community even at this level. We’re still not used to it; it’s actually more nerve-wracking, but it’s also more inspiring to see and hear all those cheers,” Valdez recalled when she came off the bench and was called to serve.
