Alyssa Valdez had plenty of glowing words for her former mentor, Tai Bundit, who is set to helm the Alas Pilipinas Women.
It's a reunion decades in the making.
Tai Bundit reunites with setter and Alas Pilipinas Women captain Jia de Guzman as the Thai tactician was tapped to return to the Philippine women's national volleyball team.
This time, he's the head coach.
[ALSO READ: Tai Bundit officially named Alas Pilipinas Women head coach]
It almost seemed like destiny when the two met during the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last December, when the Alas Pilipinas Women absorbed another heartbreaking fourth place finish.
Also present to witness the Alas Pilipinas Women was Alyssa Valdez, a former longtime national team member, working this time as a correspondent for Cignal.
And for Ate Ly, Tai's return to the Philippine national team was a long-awaited one.
"I'm very happy for Coach Tai. Kasi I think one of the things din na nilu-look forward niya siguro ay mag-coach ulit ng women's at makatulong sa volleyball program ng Philippines," Valdez told One Sports during the SEA Games. "So I'm just really happy for him."
The bond is true for the Ateneo Blue Eagles under Tai Bundit, developing the iconic "Heartstrong" mantra that led to UAAP championships in Seasons 76 and 77.
That same discipline forged the championship culture for the Creamline Cool Smashers, leading to titles in the 2018 Reinforced, 2018 Open, and 2019 Open Conferences.
And that bond is still there, as the Cool Smashers dined in coach Bundit's restaurant in Thailand.
"Marami rin akong natutunan kay Coach Tai," Valdez mused. "I feel like I had my best games then under him."
Under Bundit, she was hailed Most Valuable Player thrice in the UAAP. She picked up the award as a pro under the same tactician in the 2018 PVL Open Conference.
"Two different cultures. Two opposite personalities. One common denominator... passion and love for the sport," she wrote of her coach as part of a birthday greeting in 2016.
"So really looking forward na makita, if ever matuloy yan, makita siya na matulungan at maturuan itong mga nasa national team natin," Valdez said.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) confirmed after the SEA Games that Bundit was on its wishlist after coach Jorge de Brito's contract was set to expire by the end of 2025.
"Yeah, nasa wishlist siya," PNVF chief Tony Boy Liao said. "If you will say, medyo champion coach—lahat ng teams na binanggit ko, pinag-champion siya."
(With reports from Kiko Demigillo, Mei-lin Lozada/One Sports Digital)
Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports.
She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup.
Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.