F2 Logistics’ Ara Galang may not put up gargantuan numbers but she’s one of the most important cogs to their tried and tested machine.
After a championship run in the 2016 PSL All-Filipino Conference, Galang took time to rest and rehabilitate her knee that was horrifically injured during her college years with the De La Salle University Lady Spikers.
Without Galang during their first few games in the Grand Prix, the Cargo Movers struggled as chemistry issues arose with their imports.
But when the former UAAP MVP made a return to the lineup, F2 Logistics settled down and got back to their winning ways.
“Iba kasi kapag si Ara ang nasa loob ng court. Kahit di maka-score nang marami, mas maganda galawa ng teammates niya kapag nasa loob siya.
“Very solid din siya sa receive at defense,” gushed Galang’s longtime mentor and F2 Logistics head coach Ramil De Jesus.
In the eight full matches that Galang played in the elimination round, she averaged nearly 10 points per contest with four digs and three excellent receptions.
Two years removed from said knee injury and Galang is nearing her past form.
“Siguro ‘yung mindset ko lang na hindi ako puwedeng makuntento sa kung ano lang nabibigay ko kailangan nag-iimprove ako every game. Every training dapat meron akong i-wowork out,” Galang said.
Last year, Galang’s current local teammates participated in the Grand Prix as the Meralco Power Spikers but only finished in fifth place.
With the 5-foot-9 open hitter, F2 Logistics is comfortably in the semifinals.
“Malaking bagay yun hindi lang naman locals makakalaban mo. May imports din kaya kailangan step up mo sarili mo,” she expressed.
“First time ko din maglaro sa Grand Prix kaya siyempre nakaka-excite din. Magandang nakakalaban yung imports eh may matututunan ka pa sa kanila.”
The Cargo Movers could keep their hopes at a Golden Double alive tomorrow at Albay but they have to go through the vaunted Petron Tri-Activ Spikers.
Petron crushed F2 Logistics in their two elimination round outings mainly due to the demoralizing hitting and serving of import Stephanie Niemer.
Limiting the Cincinnati-native’s impact will be key according to Galang in their do-or-die face-off.
“‘Yun ‘yung siguro na iwowork ko at namin ng team since last game namin maraming aces sa amin si Niemer so dun pa lang malaking bagay yun so kailangan hangga’t maaari mapipigil namin siya. Siyempre kailangan ko rin tulungan ‘yung team basta ako mindset ko ibibigay ko lang kung anong kaya ko. Kung makakatulong ako sa libero namin go lang,” the Pampanga-native insisted.
“Sa standings pa lang wala naman kami sa number one and two siguro underdogs nga kami pero yung totoong battle naman sa semis doon naman magkakaalaman so dun na lang.”
