Jema Galanza stuck out from her peers over the last two days of the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team tryouts.
Jema, who stands at 5-foot-7, is already one of the most decorated spikers in the field. She has two PVL titles with Creamline; a celebrated career as an Adamson Lady Falcon; and a stint with the National Team during the 2018 Asian Women’s Volleyball Cup.
Still, Jema was grouped mostly with incoming UAAP freshmen and UAAP Juniors stars in the tryouts, since she is still eligible to play for the Under-23 squad.
But Jema had plenty of reasons to be happy, since she got to play with younger sister Mafe, an incoming rookie for the University of Santo Tomas.
It turns out, Jema and Mafe last played together in high school when Jema was a senior and Mafe a freshman. The two attended secondary studies at the San Pedro Relocation Center National High School.
The possibility of them both donning the country’s colors only made Friday afternoon’s scrimmages more exciting.
“Excited ako kung saka-sakaling maging teammate ko siya sa National Team,” expressed 19-year-old setter Mafe.
“Nakakapanibago din kasi ‘yung last na naging teammate ko siya, first year pa siya. Sobrang tagal na. Naiiyak pa ‘yan, pinapagalitan ni Tatay. Ngayon ko lang siya nakikita mag-mature,” added the 22-year old Jema.
“Sayang ‘yung opportunity kasi na magkalaro kami tapos sa National Team pa. Ako gusto ko talaga. Pero siya, bilang bata pa, sabi ko sa kanya na mag-tryout lang nang mag-tryout tapos maglaro lang sa UAAP.”
As the most experienced among the U-23 hopefuls, Jema knows she has more responsibilities.
“Iniisip ko na kailangan kong maging model sa kanila kasi ako na ‘yung may pinaka may experience. Gusto ko rin na ma-share sa kanila ‘yung mga natutunan ko sa mga taon na naglalaro ako. Siyempre, relax lang din ako kasi baby pa sila and ‘di pa sila puwede pagalitan.”
For her part, Mafe credits Jema for teaching the proper approach to playing volleyball.
“Natuto ako sa kanya na kailangan ko talagang mag-mature. Sabi niya nga na iyakin ako noon,” she quipped.
“Pero sobrang mainitin kasi ng ulo ko ‘pag naglalaro, kaya sa kanya ako natututo mag-compose.”
