Whatever she can give the team, she will provide.
That has always been Jema Galanza’s mindset ever since the start of the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.
And that is exactly what she did on Tuesday night when Creamline figured in a tough encounter against the upset-seeking Chery Tiggo.
Galanza provided steady hands-on defense in the extended fourth set before hammering in the crucial point that put the Cool Smashers at match point, 27-26. Jia De Guzman then sealed the game from the service line.
“Ako naman po lagi ko namang mindset na kung anong kaya ko talagang maibigay sa team,” said the 25-year-old native of San Pedro, Laguna after the team’s four-set win against the Crossovers.
“Points ‘man, depensa, receive, block or anything basta mas mapapadali ko [yung buhay] ng team,” she added.
When the dust settled, Galanza finished with 23 points on 21 attacks and two aces to go along with seven excellent receptions.
“Well, ‘di ko naman inexpect yung points pero siguro nadala na lang din talaga sa game,” said the 2019 PVL Open Conference MVP.
Galanza also credited the team’s coaching staff for keeping them focused in the tight fourth set that saw the Crossovers save two crucial points, 22-24, to extend the match.
“Yung coaches naman po ang focus lang is hinga lang, relax lang, hindi kailangan ma-rattle, hindi kailangan magmadali sa mga gagawin sa loob ng court basta makuha lang namin yung momentum and laro namin,” said Galanza as Creamline tied Cignal at the top spot with identical 4-1 slates.
With the Cool Smashers already a lock in the semifinals, Galanza said that the team’s number one focus is keeping everyone safe from COVID-19 so that they could field an intact roster come the playoffs.
“Focus lang din talaga sa team kasi may kanya kanyang nilalaro yung bawat team,” said Galanza.
“Ngayon kami focus lang and yung health talaga sobra kasing ‘di mo masabi mamaya baka hindi kami kumpleto pero yun lang talaga sobrang nagiingat lang kami.“
