Alyssa Valdez, front and center of Philippine volleyball, has been named flag-bearer of Team Philippines to the Southeast Asian Games which begins on Friday, 5 May, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
She will lead the 50 Filipinas who will parade in the opening ceremony marking the first time the country is led by an all-woman crew in the inaugurals.
The 29-year-old has also been selected as team captain of the national women’s team which is looking to break a long dry spell in the competition.
Some 840 Filipino athletes will see action in the biennial meet which will feature 34 sports and dangle more than 600 gold medals.
The country wound up fourth overall last year in the 2021 edition held a year behind schedule in Hanoi, Vietnam, because of the pandemic.