Alyssa Valdez and Ces Molina turned back the clock as they powered Alas Pilipinas to a convincing start in the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup.
Nearly seven years after last sharing the court for the Philippine women’s national team, Valdez and Molina reunited in national colors and delivered vintage performances to lead Alas Pilipinas to a dominant 25-16, 25-12, 25-14 victory over Uzbekistan in its Pool A opener.
The pair were among the veterans called back to national team duty alongside Jovelyn Gonzaga and interim head coach Shaq Delos Santos, rekindling a partnership that dates back to the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.
Valdez spearheaded the attack with a game-high 14 points built on 11 attacks, 2 blocks, and 1 ace, while also contributing 8 excellent digs. Molina provided strong support with 11 points and 15 excellent digs as the Philippines opened its campaign with a 1-0 record.
Ces Molina Relishes Reunion
For Molina, the reunion made the victory even more meaningful.
“Ako personally, sobrang happy ko kasi kasama ko ulit sila, back 2019, and I’m glad na may mga bago kaming mga kasama ngayon. I hope magtuloy-tuloy ’to,” she said.
Despite having just three weeks to prepare and navigating questions surrounding the team’s formation, Alas Pilipinas showed composure and chemistry from the opening set before cruising to a straight-sets win.
Alyssa Valdez Welcomes Opportunity
Alyssa Valdez admitted she never expected to once again share the national team stage with familiar faces from the 2019 squad, but welcomed the opportunity to contribute both on and off the court.
“Napakasaya sa pakiramdam, we never really thought na we’re gonna go back here together, but andito kami so we’ll take this opportunity para makapag-share rin ng knowledge sa mga bata na nasa national team,” said the three-time PVL MVP.
Beyond their contributions on the scoreboard, the veteran trio has also embraced the responsibility of guiding a younger generation of players looking to make their mark on the international stage.
For Molina, leadership within the team has come naturally because of everyone’s willingness to work together.
“’Yung leadership siguro natural na ’yon sa mga players. Parang lahat kayang mag-lead. Pero lahat kami nag-a-adjust din kami sa isa’t isa, lahat kami sumusunod sa isa’t isa for better teamwork,” she said.
Confidence Boost for Alas Pilipinas
The strong opening performance provided an early confidence boost for an Alas Pilipinas squad aiming to build on its runner-up finish in the previous edition of the tournament.
And with familiar faces once again sharing the same side of the net, Alyssa Valdez and Ces Molina hope this latest chapter with the national team can lead to something even more meaningful in the days ahead.
