Alyssa Valdez, the Filipino volleyball superstar known as “The Phenom,” saw her stellar career take a pause after a major knee injury in late 2022. But despite missing most of the 2023 season, she stayed close to the sport she loves, finding a new purpose in holding youth volleyball camps.
“When I got injured, I cannot see myself not doing anything for the sport… Kapag chinallenge ka ni Lord, may mga lalabas din talaga na bagay na purposeful,” said Alyssa in her interview with broadcaster Bernadette Sembrano on her vlog.
“I feel like I’m seeing other paths lang… I think yung purpose na hinahanap ko is more than just about playing na,” she furthered.
Alyssa’s focus has now shifted to running youth volleyball camps, aiming to discover fresh talent and nurture future players.
“It’s actually helping the kids and serving the sport na in any way possible,” she said. “I see a lot of potential in the kids. I really wanna see them play in the long run tapos tayo ang magcheer sa kanila.”
The Alyssa Valdez Youth Volleyball Camp, now on its fifth leg in Marikina City, is a free camp that brings expert coaches together to train the next generation of volleyball stars.
But don’t think she’s done with her playing career because she has made it clear that she’s not retiring yet. “For sure, as a player, I still wanna improve, get all the championships, play for the team,” she said.
