Alyssa Valdez is one of the biggest stars of the Southeast Asian Games with more than two million followers on Instagram, but can the nation's flagbearer lead the Philippines indoor women's volleyball team to a first-ever podium place?
The 29-year-old Filipina is taking part in her fifth SEA Games, hoping to put to bed the pain of coming fourth in the past three editions. This time, at Cambodia 2023, the team are going all out to take home a precious medal.
The side have spent two weeks training together in Osaka, Japan in an effort to break that barrier, under the stewardship of Brazil’s head coach Jorge Souza de Brito.
A 1992 Olympic gold medallist as a player, and an assistant to the Brazil women’s team who won gold at Beijing 2008, he accepted the role of consultant to Filipina’s volleyball team in July 2021.
His experience will be key but so will that of the veteran Valdez.
“We’re always aiming to give honour and pride to our country not just by representing it, so I hope we can bring home a medal,” Valdez told Inquirer.net ahead of the Games, which started on Friday 5 May and at which Valdez was her nation’s flag bearer for a women-only delegation.
Alyssa Valdez and co, going all out for a medal
Leading mostly a new line-up since the last SEA Games at Hanoi 2021, the side is strengthened with the core of the squad, including Valdez, playing for the Creamline Cool Smashers in Philippines’ premier women’s volleyball league.
They will need that cohesion.
Competing in group B, they face silver medallists last time out Vietnam, host Cambodia, and Singapore.
Thailand will once again be favourites having won the event 13 consecutive times – the Philippines were the last nation to win the title before that streak.
Vietnam and Indonesia are also in the mix for medal placings, having come second and third, respectively, in Hanoi.
Valdez hopes to lead her team through the group stage, which starts for her side on 9 May, and to the ranking rounds beginning 13 May. Ending the 18-year drought since the side last won a medal, bronze at their homes Games in 2005, is the plan.
“I’m just really thankful for the trust of the coaches. It feels really different when you play for the country,” said Valdez. “With that trust, we will give our all for a good fight for this SEA Games.”
Schedule: When to watch the Filipina volleyball team at Southeast Asian Games 2023
Women’s indoor volleyball – Group stage
- 9 May - 19:30 Philippines vs Cambodia
- 10 May - 17:00 Philippines vs Vietnam
- 11 May - 17:00 Singapore vs Philippines
Women’s indoor volleyball – Placings
13 May
- 12:00 3rd A vs 4th B 5th - 8th
- 14:30 3rd B vs 4th A 5th to 8th
- 17:30 1st A vs 2nd B Semi-finals
- 19:00 1st B vs 2nd A Semi-finals
14 May
- 12:00 Placings 7th - 8th
- 14:30 Placings 5th - 6th
- 17:30 Placings 3rd - 4th
- 19:00 Placings – Final
