Filipina volleyball star Alyssa Valdez will once again serve as flag bearer for the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games.
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) announced that Valdez will lead the all-female Philippine contingent in the opening ceremony on Friday, May 5, at the Morodok Techo Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
“Alyssa best fits our goal of an almost all-female delegation in the opening ceremony," POC president Abraham Tolentino said on Tuesday, May 2, in a statement.
“She’s not only the face of Philippine volleyball, but Philippine sports as well," Tolentino added.
Tolentino earlier said that aside from him and Chef De Mission Chito Loyzaga, 50 Filipina athletes will represent the Philippine delegation in the parade of nations.
The organizers decided to only allow each nation to deploy 50 athletes at most during the opening parade of the 32nd SEA Games.
Valdez will fly to Phnom Penh on Friday, a day earlier compared to the rest of the Philippine national women's volleyball team that will leave on Saturday, May 6.
The captain of the Philippine national women's volleyball also served as flag bearer for the country in the 2015 SEA Games held in Singapore.
“It’s such an honor to be the flag bearer for this year’s SEA games. It’s a big responsibility but I’m grateful for the trust given to me once again,” Valdez said.
“I share this with all the women in sports who brought honor and glory to the country,” she added.
