CLOSE to a thousand fans have warmly greeted the country’s volleyball phenom Alyssa Valdez in her visit here during the 1st XUWVT finals on Sunday at the Xavier University gym.
The 24-year-old Valdez, popularly known as the fronliner of Ateneo de Manila University lady Blue Eagles in UAAP volleyball, received a standing ovation before the Cagayan de Oro fans when she entered the gym.
Also a member of the Philippine women’s volleyball and ace player of Creamline Cool Smashers, the good-looking Valdez gamely interacts with the appreciative crowd.
She had the fans took "selfie" with her and had them in her social media page.
Valdez even graced the secondary final between Angelicum and St. Mary’s School and presided over the ceremonial serves.
She also briefly played with them, thus showcasing her smashing prowess.
“Volleyball is indeed alive in Cagayan de Oro, owing to the many fans of Alyssa Valdez,” said XU sports director Vincent Padilla of Valdez who stayed in the gym for a while to watch the secondary girls final.
SMS star spiker Erika Raagas, who finished 18 points in the final with eight attacks, six blocks and four aces, unleashed power spikes while Valdez was watching at the sides.
“Of course, anybody would like to have their best moves seen by their idol,” said SMS assistant coach Realiado Abut.
A natural talent that she is, Valdez is one of the charismatic sports personalities in the country today with more than a million followers in her Instagram and Twitter accounts.
