Wherever Ara Galang went, success was never far behind.
Her career sparkled with championships — three from her collegiate days in the UAAP with La Salle, where she became one of the league’s brightest stars. Then four more at the club level in the now-defunct Philippine Super Liga, where her winning pedigree continued to shine.
But in the Premier Volleyball League, that same championship magic had eluded her — until now, as she stands on the brink of her first PVL crown.
“Sobrang saya, sobrang saya lang ng nararamdaman ko. Ngayon siguro mag-eenjoy, pero onto the next na rin… Ayoko nang tumigil dito. Nasa finals na kami, so yung opportunity gusto ko lang talaga i-grab. Pero masaya, sobra,” said the 30-year-old outside hitter.
On Tuesday night, Galang moved one step closer to the title she had long been chasing, leading Chery Tiggo into the 2025 PVL On Tour championship match with a 25-17, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23 semifinal win over Cignal at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
(C) PVL Images
The 5-foot-7 winger scored 15 points and delivered clutch attacks in the fourth set that sealed the knockout victory against the HD Spikers.
Galang shared that she simply answered head coach Norman Miguel’s call to take charge when the match hung in the balance, relying on her experience to deliver when it mattered most.
“Bago kasi mag-third set, sinabihan din ako ni coach na kaming dalawa ni Alina, ako na yung senior na andun, so sabi niya, ako na mag-lead sa team,” said the former UAAP MVP.
“Ginampanan ko lang din yung sinabi sa’kin ni coach at nag-focus lang din ako sa laro kung ano yung mako-contribute ko sa team kung papano kami mananalo. Yun lang din yung focus ko, binigay ko lang din yung best ko,” she added.
It has been a long, challenging road to the PVL Final for Galang, who had been yearning for this chance since making her league debut in 2022.
“Actually marami rin namang [nag-inspire sa’kin]. Passion ko yung volleyball eh. Nag-eenjoy akong maglaro. May opportunity pa ako so ayokong sayangin kasi hindi naman [habang buhay] kaya kong maglaro eh,” said Galang.
But not once did she think of giving up — all for the love of the game, her family, her fans, and everyone who believed in her.
“Hangga’t kaya ko gagawin ko yung best ko, gagawin ko yung makakaya ko para matulungan yung team ko ngayon, sa Chery. Maggi-give back ako sa tiwalang binibigay nila sa’kin. Naglalaro rin ako dahil sa pamilya ko at sa mga nagtitiwala sa akin. Kung may nai-inspire pa ako, bata, matanda, o ano, naglalaro rin ako para sa kanila,” said Galang.
“Simple lang, hindi ako titigil. Magpapatuloy lang ako hangga’t makuha ko ‘yung goal ko.”
\#WATCH: “HINDI AKO TITIGIL”
After a long wait, Ara Galang is finally showing her old form 🏐
🎥 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/1QhmkKNkKB
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) August 12, 2025
