Valdez drives PLDT Home Ultera to Shakey’s V-League championship

MANILA, Philippines – She missed the eliminations round due to a minor back injury but returned to the finals, for redemption and for the crown.

Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Alyssa Valdez erupted for 22 points built on 17 kills, 4 aces, and a block for the PLDT Home Ultera Ultra-Fast Hitters to deny the Philippine Army Lady Troopers in the finals, 25-21, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, of the Shakey’s V-League 12 Reinforced Conference Sunday, December 6, at the Arena in San Juan.

Import Sareea Freeman also chipped in 17 points as Sue Roces and Gretchel Soltones combined for 20 markers.

PLDT won the first game in the best-of-3 finals series on November 28 and sealed its championship bid on Sunday, denying the Army of any chance to tie the series.

“Andiyan si Alyssa kahit ano pang naging problema niya. Salamat doon (Alyssa has been there despite all the circumstances. I really thank her for that),” said PLDT Coach Roger Gorayeb of Valdez. He had problems with Ateneo, which prohibited her from playing for PLDT.

The Ultra-Fast Hitters displayed mastery of the Army, demolishing their defense early in the game. But Army botched a straight-set victory for PLDT as they nabbed the third set.

Conference MVP Jovelyn Gonzaga tied the score to 16-16 and finished the third set duel with her patented kill, 25-22, to boost the Army’s morale.

But PLDT owned the fourth set as Valdez continued to fire razor-sharp smashes that the Army was unable to recover from.

Aby Maraño topscored for the Army with 14 points, while Gonzaga finished with 13 markers. – Rappler.com