It was a painful season last year for Ara Galang and the De La Salle Lady Spikers. With Galang reduced to a mere spectator after suffering a season-ending knee injury during her team’s semis clash against the NU Lady Bulldogs, she cannot help but cry.
However, that memory is now a thing of the past as Galang is once again back on collegiate volleyball’s biggest stage in reclaiming their lost glory against a very familiar Ateneo team.
“Super happy kasi, honestly, after ng game [against FEU], biglang pumasok sa isip ko [na I’m back sa Finals]. Noong before game, hindi ko siya naiisip and then after ng game, narealize ko na papalapit na ako sa goal ko,” Galang happily told reporters moments after emerging from the team’s dugout. “Parang naka-one step na rin ako [towards] sa closure [of my UAAP career] kasi ngayon makakalaro ako ng Finals. Super happy and excited ako.”
“Medyo [unfinished business siya] doon sa winork ko and ‘yung team namin.”
This also marks the fifth straight season wherein Galang shall face Ateneo in the championship round. Ever since her rookie year back in Season 74, she has no shortage of epic battles against the Lady Eagles.
Also, Galang aims to settle the score since La Salle and Ateneo have won two championships apiece since facing off during Season 74. She would do everything to give La Salle a 3-2 edge against their long-time rivals.
“Ako excited ako kasi for sure, lahat din naman ng tao, iyon ang inaabangan. So kami rin, iyon din ang gusto naming mangyari, so kailangan [work it out] pa namin ng mabuti,” Galang added.
“Since rookie year ko, bali 2-2 na [kami in terms of championships won]. Two years sa amin, two year sa kanila. So, kailangan din iyon ang isa sa paghuhugotan namin. Kailangan gawin namin lahat para makuha namin ang goal namin.”
