As a mainstay for the Creamline Cool Smashers and the Philippine women's national volleyball team, Alyssa Valdez is no stranger to speaking in front of the camera. She's used to working in a production set-up as well, as she hosts the talk show Aces on Pilipinas Live.
Valdez has also suited up for the Southeast Asian Games five times from 2015 to 2023, even selected as a flagbearer for the Singapore and Cambodia editions.
But for the first time, she worked behind the camera as a correspondent for Cignal during the SEA Games in Thailand. One Sports worked with Valdez during this period and asked about her experience.
Day 1:
The Philippine women's national volleyball team fell short of the podium for the fifth straight time in yet another heartbreaking loss to Indonesia. It led to a passionate speech by Alas captain Jia de Guzman emphasizing more preparation for the squad.
On the same day, Kayla Sanchez, Miranda Renner, Xiandi Chua, and Heather White capped the Philippines' swimming delegation's medal haul with a silver in the women's 4x100m medley.
How was your experience, first day as a reporter?
Alyssa: Kailangan pala fit ka talaga as a reporter, I'm kidding. I'd say, nakakakaba din na you really have to talk to athletes in a manner na [you take into considerations] yung emotions nila after the game, nararamdaman mo, alam mo rin dapat right questions to ask. So hindi rin sayang ang oras nila when they talk to me.
So yan ang isa sa mga learning. I want to be better in forming questions in the next few days hopefully, and siguro delivering more news and more inside scoop kung ano nangyayari behind every mga tournaments, every games kasi yan din yung isa sa mga things na gusto natin i-share sa ating mga kababayan sa Pilipinas.
May kaba ba? Paano mo siya pinaghandaan?
Alyssa: Sobrang kaba! Paano pinaghandaan? I'm the type kasi na I really wanna mind-set. So every single time I would ask for the schedule, but my learning talaga hindi pala ganun 'pag mga ganitong event. Kailangan on the go ka palagi, kailangan you play it by ear din.
One thing na ginawa ko, asking some of my friends, I know I'm covering swimming today. So I asked Aldo Tong, one of the coaches and manager of the swimming team ng ibang terms specifically for swimming. For volleyball naman, I really watch the games prior coming here. So yun yung mga ibang preparation ko. So sanang mas madami pa ako matutunan.
Nakatulong ba na bilang atleta, lagi kang iniinterview?
Alyssa: Actually, na-realize ko nga parang honestly ibang-iba kasi talaga 'pag ikaw 'yung iininterview. Kasi you just say your thoughts and syempre 'yung mga nag-iinterview yung nag-iisip kung paano 'yung follow-up questions. Wala akong iniisip, kasi it's just releasing your thoughts. Now you really have to listen to the athletes para may follow-up questions ka and they know also that you watch and listen to them.
Ano ang mas mahirap? Maging reporter o maging atleta?
Alyssa: Actually, mahirap din manood! (laugh) I'd say mahirap sila both. Definitely syempre 'pag hindi ka rin talaga prepared, medyo mahirapan ka. So now I'm really trying to be more observant. Sanang madami matutunan pero mahirap parehas.
What was it like watching volleyball as a correspondent?
Alyssa: I think one good thing that I got from today is that I I'm more observant of the things around me. Kasi sometimes, nakatutok lang din tayo sa game. Pero may mga nangyayari palang, mga bagay na importante din sa sideline and everything else. So, ganun naman ako nag-enjoy. Makikita ko yung mga little details na yun. So, nag-enjoy talaga ako and it's just so nice also to watch volleyball in a different perspective and really cheer them on.
Iba talaga yung feeling 'pag nanonood ka lang. Syempre, as a volleyball player, syempre, as much as possible, you wanna contribute din kung hanggang saan makakaya mo. Pero for now, it's really just to cheer and support the team. Pero the girls really gave their best today. And we're just here to support them all the way.
Day 2:
The Philippine men's volleyball team lost their last preliminaries game against Indonesia, but would still head to the semifinals. Later in the evening, the Philippine athletics team scored a haul in the final day of their competition, topped by EJ Obiena winning his fourth SEA Games gold in pole vault. He spoke to Valdez right after his win, appearing live on One Sports' Play by Play.
Valdez worked with Dyp Dypiangco during the athletics coverage.
First-ever live interview with a SEA Games gold medalist, your thoughts?
Alyssa: Well, daming learnings. Most especially, I think, pag live may mga delays and everything. So I got to learn so much things today, new things today.
And I'm just very, very happy that all of these athletes are, alam mo, very humble, and they're willing na i-share ko na yung mga emotions nila right after winning a gold medal. So I just want to say thank you to EJ as well. Pero, yeah, I got a lot of things to learn. And hopefully, again, again, I just want to say thank you to all the people behind this camera who are very, very patient and understanding din. And sobra, grabe sila magturo sa akin.
How is it covering athletics, which is a completely different animal?
Alyssa: Honestly, this is my first time watching athletics, most especially pole vault And iba pala yung thrill na nabibigay ng athletics. Kasi parang lahat, it's a one whole family. May nangyayari sa kabilang side, may nangyayari sa harap ko. So, iba yung thrill na nabibigay niya sa akin. Iba yung joy din. And I'd say medyo chaos dito, but still organized in a way. And you just gotta love the, alam mo yung strength and yung firepower ng lahat. Kasi makikita mo lahat nagpu-push talaga dito. Iba, iba, iba yung thrill na nabigay sa akin ng athletics. So, I just really wanna learn more about the sports and more events, actually. And ang dami nating medals dito. So, yeah, very exciting.
What was going through your head during sa live interview?
Alyssa: Sa live interview, honestly, I was just thinking siguro na sana hindi ako mawalan ng questions for EJ. And sana ma-enjoy ni EJ yung pagku-kwento niya. I think yun yung isa sa mga things na I want na ma-feel ng mga na-interview at mga athletes, na comfortable lang sila. And they're there to just talk to us and to share their feelings sa lahat ng mga Pilipino para maramdaman din natin kung gano kasarap yung pagkapanalo nila.
You've covered both women's and men's volleyball. What was it like for you going from the other side?
Alyssa: I love supporting the girls and the boys. I love the community. I think one learning I got today din from volleyball is that, grabe, all the Filipinos would actually support us, our community. Magfa-fly sila to go to different contests just to watch us. And it's just so nice to see that side of volleyball. Kasi siguro, at the end of the day, if you're an athlete, syempre nasa kabilang side ka talaga. Hindi mo nakikita nang malapitan kung ano nangyari. But in my past two days experiencing, watching volleyball, kitang-kita ko kung gano ka-passionate yung mga volleyball fans.
Day 3:
Alex Eala wins gold in women's tennis singles, her first-ever SEA Games gold.
Later that night, the Philippine women's football team made history by beating four-peat champions Vietnam for a historic maiden gold medal in the SEA Games.
Valdez worked with Denise Tan during the tennis coverage in Bangkok and with Bea Escudero for the Filipinas' football victory in Chonburi.
Alyssa: Iba pala yung feeling pag nakakapanood ka ng gold, parang nanalo ka din. So nung nanalo most especially, well, si EJ, si Alex, saka yung football, tumatalon din talaga ako. Parang nakapuntos din ako. So ang sarap i-cover ng mga athletes natin kasi kitang-kita mo yung binibigay talaga nila lahat. Saka nakikita mo dala dala nila yung pride natin as Filipinos. So ang saya, ang saya. So sana mas madami pang golds tayo makuha, most especially towards the latter part of this tournament.
Day 4:
The Philippine men's volleyball team clinch a SEA Games bronze. Meanwhile, the women's and men's teams of Gilas Pilipinas reign supreme in 5-on-5 basketball.
Alyssa: After ilang days of being able to be with the athletes and report and share their stories, ang masasabi ko lang it was quite fun, tiring, but fulfilling talaga. I'd say fun kasi this is a new experience for me. I don't really actually see the other side in terms of doing stories.
It was tiring because you really have to go around, really try to make an effort and alam mo yan lalo na dito sa SEA Games sa Thailand, medyo layo-layo kasi yung venues. So medyo doon kami lang nahihirapan.
Pero it was fun pa rin kasi I got to bond with sila, Direk Ry, sina Dyp, sina Ate Mei-lin, sina kuya Mark, everyone from the volleyball and Cignal team. So I really like that.
@onesportsphl ATE LY REPORTING FOR DUTY 💙🎤 Volleyball superstar Alyssa Valdez shows the same trademark composure as she steps in as a correspondent for One Sports and Cignal at the recently concluded SEA Games 2025 in Thailand. | via Mei-Lin Lozada/One Sports #SEAGames2025 #SEAGamesThailand #SEAGames33 #TibayAtTatag
? original sound - OneSportsPHL
It was fulfilling because siguro as an athlete, I really could feel yung mga stories din nila. Yung respect ko sobrang mas tumaas sa mga atletang Pilipino, sa lahat ng mga sacrifices nila na binigay para sa ating bansa and para sa atin, to just perform well and get medals for the Philippines.
(With reports from 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.