Playing in her final year, Jema Galanza was stacked with tremendous expectations to start Season 80.
Even if she was coming off a horrific ankle injury, the Adamson Lady Falcons team captain still fielded most of the pressure to lift the Lady Falcons to Final Four contention.
Both the Lady Falcons ans Galanza were disappointing in their first match, losing to National U in four sets. Galanza scored just six points and was subbed in-and-out due to her struggles.
But, the Lady Falcons, in head coach Air Padda’s words, were a completely different team against FEU. The Lady Falcons fired on all cylinders to squeeze out a five-set win.
Galanza tallied an all-around performance, scoring 26 points with 15 digs and 17 excellent receptions. Most of all, she was proud to have finally stepped up as the leader her team needed.
“Kinakabahan na ako noong fifth set. Sinabi ko sa sarili ko na kailangan ko magfocus at kailangan ako ng team. Dahil last ko na ‘to. Dapat di nila makikitaan ng kahinaan,” the 21-year-old spiker said.
“Tinuloy ko lang ‘yung kung ano ‘yung ginawa ko, dapat first set hanggang last set, same lang.”
Padda was also happy to have brought her squad their first win against FEU since Season 78. For players like Galanza, the American tactician knows wins like this mean the most.
“I think for them, the players who have been here for so long, this means more to them. They’ve been on the program for so long,” Padda thought.
Galanza and the Lady Falcons look to build on their momentum when they face the UP Lady Maroons on Wednesday.
“Alam ko po na lahat kami, kaya namin mag-step up. Importante sa amin na maituloy itong sinimulan namin para makarating kami sa goals namin.”
