Over the course of her career, injuries have taken a major chunk out of Ara Galang’s career. The biggest thing she’s missed out on is playing for the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team.
In 2015, suffered a horrendous knee injury, sidelining the Pampanga-native from participating in both the Asian Under-23 tournament and Southeast Asian Games. Galang was recovering from treatment on the same knee when the National Team tryouts rolled around in 2017.
The UAAP Season 75 Women’s Volleyball Most Valuable Player was there to show interest, but was unable to participate in drills, ultimately missing out on the first cut.
Now, coming off a resurgent campaign with the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix, Galang finally got a chance to tryout yesterday at the Arellano University Gym.
Competing with teammates and former rivals, Galang was just happy she was healthy enough to participate.
“Siyempre happy and excited,” the 23-year-old open hitter shared.
“If ever, kung mapili, siyempre lahat naman gusto ‘yun. Kumbaga dream ‘yun ng lahat ng athletes eh, isa ‘yun sa gusto nilang makamit.”
Even though her longtime coach Ramil De Jesus is taking charge of the national team program, Galang isn’t expecting any sort of special treatment.
“For me kasi alam ko naman na hindi magiging biased si coach sa pagpili.
“For sure, hindi naman porke’t players niya kami, pipiliin na niya kami. Wala namang ganoon,” the DLSU alumna emphasized. “For sure kilala ko siya and alam ko na magaling rin kasi siyang magbasa ng players eh, so alam ko na pipiliin niya ‘yung talagang makaktulong sa team, ‘yung talagang deserving. Kaya hindi naman porket naging players niya ‘yun na ‘yung pipiliin niya. Siyempre may makikita siya sa taong ‘yun ‘bat niya kinuha.”
With a steep pool of wingers, Galang knows she isn’t a shoo-in. She trusts De Jesus with whatever decision he ends up with.
“Hindi naman sasama ang loob ko (pag ‘di ako nakuha). Ang akin naman siyempre tryout, kung makuha eh ‘di maganda. Pero kung hindi, may tiwala ako sa kanya na alam ko kung hindi niya ako pipiliin mas makakabuti ‘yun para sa team.”
