Joanie Delgaco: Is this the most memorable moment of this talented volleyball player’s career?

Living the dream—it was pure magic when the former volleyball player-turned-Filipina Olympic rower Joanie Delgaco finally met her volleyball idol, Creamline Cool Smashers star Alyssa Valdez.

Talk about a star-struck moment. Photo (c) Instagram/@jodelgaco

From rowing through fierce waves to spiking dreams high, August 17 was nothing short of a dream come true for Filipina Olympian Joanie Delgaco.

Before discovering her true passion in the steady rhythm of rowing, a younger Joanie was deeply immersed in the world of volleyball. And among the idols that Delgaco looked up to was none other than the Phenom herself, Alyssa Valdez.

“Hi, Ate Ly. Sana soon, ma-meet kita sa personal,” Joanie shared, in a message to the Creamline Cool Smashers captain.

In Joanie’s Paris 2024 stint, Alyssa also sent her message of support for the Filipina Olympian on Instagram.

“Hi, Joanie!!! Proud kami sa’yo! Patuloy lang [ang] laban para sa bayan! Dito lang kami sa likod mo, supporting all the way!” she wrote.

The many-time PVL champion then sent an invite to Joanie to catch a live PVL, but Alyssa went one step further, also setting up girl lunch date—talk about a win-win!

As Delgaco is now back in the Philippines, she wasn’t about to pass up the chance to connect with Valdez. The moment happened Saturday as the Olympian was on deck to watch Creamline take on Choco Mucho in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.

“Sobrang blessed ko kasi dati no’ng nag-istart pa lang ako sa volleyball, sobrang idol ko talaga siya [Alyssa Valdez]. And ngayon, ‘di ko ma-imagine na nag-usap na kami through chat, and ngayon in-invite niya ako. ‘Di ako makapaniwala na makasama ko siya ngayon,” she shared with One Sports.

“Actually, ilang beses na akong nakapanood ng mga laro nila. So, ngayon lang ako nakalapit sa kanila. Mismo sa bench talaga nila. Sabi niya sa akin [Alyssa] after ng game, mag-dinner daw kami,” she added with excitement.

 In her first Olympics stint Delgaco finished strong and secured a top-20 placing in women’s single sculls at Paris 2024. She was impressive enough to also earn an Olympic Solidarity scholarship.

Meanwhile, the Creamline Cool Smashers are crushing it in Pool C of the Reinforced Conference, with their commanding sweep of Choco Mucho hiking their record to 5-2.

Watch the full interview here:

(With reports from Jamie Velasco/One Sports Digital)