Ara Galang felt thrilled to see her former F2 Logistics teammate Jolina dela Cruz back on the Taraflex after a lengthy recovery from a torn ACL.
In their first face-off since F2 Logistics disbanded after the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference, Galang’s Chery Tiggo came out on top, defeating Dela Cruz’s Farm Fresh in four sets, 21-25, 25-14, 25-17, 25-20, on Saturday.
Dela Cruz’s injury was still recent when the Cargo Movers disbanded, but the Foxies took a chance on her despite her condition at the time.
When Farm Fresh announced the acquisition of the UAAP Season 85 Best Outside Spiker, Galang was one of the first to congratulate Dela Cruz, offering advice on her recovery from the torn ACL — a journey Galang had gone through herself.
(C) PVL Images
“Congrats, Jols! Paghusayan mo pa lalo. Malayo at marami pa ang tatahakin mo pero magpagaling ka muna ng husto. See you on the other side of the court,” Galang’s message to Dela Cruz read.
Now, the two have finally faced each other in the PVL.
Galang scored 20 points — 15 attacks, four blocks, and an ace — while Dela Cruz contributed seven points in just her second game back from injury.
It was all praise from one De La Salle Lady Spiker to another.
“Nakaka-proud. Naalala ko, hindi ako nakanood nung game nila ng comeback game niya. Pero nakita ko yung result. Sabi ko, wow. Sabi ko, grabe rin siya. Sabi ko, miss na miss niya. Pero siya yun eh,” said Galang.
“Props sa tinrabaho niya all year or all the months na nag-rehab siya, nag-recover siya physically, mentally.”
Dela Cruz had an explosive comeback, scoring 20 points in just three sets against Nxled. She did so efficiently, with an 18-of-35 attacking clip, two service aces, five digs, and five receptions.
“Sobrang nakaka-proud na, alam mo yun, pinakita niyang parang madali. Pero alam natin na hindi yun madali eh. So, yun, nakaka-proud lang talaga. Kaya yun, sabi ko nga lang sa kanya, pagpatuloy niya lang eh,” added the Crossovers star.
