Despite being fully recovered physically, Alyssa Valdez acknowledged the fact that it would be mentally challenging to regain to her old form.

After all, it has been six months since she last saw action. That's not counting the brief, gratuitous stint she had with the national team during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

"I would say mentally it's really hard to actually get back and be confident. Most definitely the hardest part would be you always want to accept the fact that now when you get injured the level of your play won't right away be the same as when you left the court," she said.

"It will take time, so gradually. But I'm surrounded by these people, phenomenal teammates, amazing teammates, great teammates, mature teammates, champions and beautiful teammates. They've been really helping me to keep up also mentally, emotionally and physically."

Still, Valdez is looking forward to finally getting a piece of the action when Creamline begins its title-retention bid in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference after her absence due to a right knee injury.

The Cool Smashers skipper, who was sidelined since December and missed the All-Filipino Conference, shared that she's doing great progress on her recovery which is a good sign of her return in time for the mid-season tournament slated to begin on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

"I would say I'm fully recovered. Graduated twice on my hop test. I'm cleared to train 100 percent," the 29-year-old open spiker said in a recent interview.

Valdez added that she has been training with the team for the past few weeks. Her teammate libero Kyla Atienza bared that Valdez can now hit back row attacks during practice.

"I would say I've been training with the team, full training right now. It's been how many weeks now that I've been training with them," Valdez said.

However, the Creamline team captain does not want to rush things in her comeback.

"Unfortunately, it's not as easy as we see it for me to get back right away. It has been seven months that I haven't been on the court (in the PVL). I'm taking it slow, gradual," she said.

"Just like what our doctors advised us to just take it slow. I mean, we're gonna get there just trust the process."

The veteran winger suffered a knee injury during Creamline's Reinforced Conference battle for third win against Chery Tiggo last 10 December. She underwent a procedure last February.

Valdez was reduced to a mere spectator during the all-local season-opening conference but still played a big role in providing support to her teammates while on the sidelines.

In her absence, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao and Jia Morado-De Guzman stepped up big time as the Cool Smashers came back from a 0-1 series deficit to beat Petro Gazz and complete a repeat.

"As an athlete, it's heartbreaking not to play. But to see these girls grow and mature in their craft also from the other perspective is just so nice also. You want that for the volleyball community as well, not just for Creamline. Definitely, for our team, we want everyone to step up all the time and have that responsibility also to take that leadership," Valdez said.

"I'm not used to not playing on the court, as in for the past 14 years of my life this is the longest I've been out. Hands down to all the people who got injured and got back more than 100 percent. They are my inspiration to get back right away because I see them, I feel that I missed volleyball so much and really wanna be with them."

Valdez made her return to competitive volleyball last month when she skippered the national team in the SEA Games albeit seeing limited time on court.

Creamline opens its campaign on Tuesday against Chery Tiggo in Pool A which also features Akari, PLDT and newcomer Gerflor.