Alyssa Valdez, a Filipino volleyball player, recently became trending on social media due to the hate train she was subjected to. This hate train, a series of coordinated attacks and false news, resulted in unsettling tweets about her ‘death.’
Valdez, a member of Ateneo de Manila University’s indoor and beach volleyball teams, and currently playing for Creamline Cool Smashers, has not only represented the Philippines national team but also gained global recognition for her exceptional skills and sportsmanship.
In a widely shared post on X, a fan expressed her feelings about fake news claiming that Valdez had died on Sept. 14 at the age of 31. The post was edited to misleadingly appear as though it was published by “One Sports,” a reliable news and media website in the Philippines.
“Napaka […] niyo, @/OneSportsPHL please do something gamit pa name niyo. Kayo sana mamatay mga […] [ You guys are so cruel. One Sports PH does something; they are using your name. May all of you die instead,] one user said.
Supporters urged One Sports PH, a free-to-air television network in the Philippines run by TV5 Network, Inc. and owned by Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), to take action about the post because it concerns both Valdez and the fans.
One user discovered in the same tweet that the same information was being disseminated on Facebook, along with far more inappropriate details and comparisons to Barbie Ivy, also a volleyball player praised as a “phenom,” short for phenomenal.
Defenders of Ivy, another volleyball player, have also joined the argument, standing in solidarity with Lacsina and defending her against these baseless accusations.
“Sure ka na fans ni Ivy? Tas yung tao na naman ibabash niyo na nanahimik lang. Grabe na kayo sa ginagawa sakanya, ‘di na kayo makatao [Are you certain that those are Ivy’s fans? What will happen next—are you going to insult her? That isn’t humane,” one user said in response to the speculations.
Although several fans warned against concluding, others surmised that the hate post was created by rival supporters of a different team, which Valdez does not play for, due to its continuous winning run.
Creamline recently made history by achieving the grand slam in the 2024 PVL (Premier Volleyball League) Invitational Conference, winning their tenth championship, a testament to their hard work and dedication.
Fans continue to draw attention to One Sports PH, Creamline, and other volleyball-related organizations, as well as Michele Gumabao, Valdez’s best friend and former opponent.
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