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Ara Galang and the Chery Tiggo Crossovers are through to the PVL on Tour finals.
Ara Galang couldn’t hide her smile in the Araneta Coliseum media room after the Chery Tiggo Crossovers dispatched the Cignal HD Spikers in the PVL on Tour knockout semifinals.
After all, she is set to make her first-ever PVL finals appearance, as she helped the Crossovers reach the championship rounds after three long years.
Galang finished with a conference-high 15 points built on 14 kills against the HD Spikers, including the game-winning kill that completed the 25-17, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23 victory.
“Sobrang saya, sobrang saya lang ng nararamdaman ko, pero ngayon siguro mag-i-enjoy, pero on to the next na rin, ayoko rin tumigil dito. Nasa finals na kami, so ‘yun ‘yung opportunity na gusto ko lang talaga i-grab, pero sobrang masaya,” an emotional Galang said post-game.
“Medyo matagal-tagal na rin, so talagang nandun ‘yung hunger and ‘yung eagerness ko para makuha ito. Pero syempre, hindi lang naman din ako yung magtatrabaho dito, so tatrabuhin namin ito as a team.”
Galang’s imminent PVL finals debut is the fruit of her patience and perseverance to fight through various uncertainties in her career, from the injuries she’s dealt with since her time as a DLSU Lady Spiker, to the sudden disbandment of F2 Logistics two years ago.
With Chery Tiggo, the veteran hitter has emerged as a go-to option and has proven that she has a lot left in the tank despite the silent battles she had to deal with throughout her career.
“Syempre, masaya sa puso, kasi, yun nga, nagagawa ko pa rin yung passion ko, yung gusto ko, nage-enjoy pa ako, and nakakasabay pa din. So, masaya ako na nandito pa rin ako sa industry na ito,” Galang reflected in a follow-up interview.
Now, Ara Galang has the golden chance to add a PVL on Tour title to her list of accolades when they face the mighty PLDT High Speed Hitters this Sunday, August 17. But as early as now, she knows that teamwork will be crucial if Chery Tiggo wants to rule the PVL’s preseason tilt.
After all, it is this very teamwork that has defined the Crossovers under head coach Norman Miguel, where they have relied on a balanced approach rather than having a clear-cut number one scorer.
No stranger to success, Galang says that a similar identity was key in her past championship teams with the Lady Spikers and F2 Logistics.
“Yun nga, di ba sinasabi na hindi lang iisa eh, so lahat kami nagko-contribute, so mahalaga na nandun, mag-stay kaming ganon, ‘yung unity namin, ‘yung as one kami.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.