Playing for the Creamline Cool Smashers means so much more than sharing the court with familiar faces for ace spiker Jema Galanza.
Tuesday, December 3 marked Jema Galanza’s return into the PVL’s Creamline-Choco Mucho rivalry matchup after missing much of the 2024 Reinforced and Invitational Conferences due to her national team commitments with Alas Pilipinas.
But more than playing again in the PVL’s premier rivalry game, Galanza is just happy to be back with the Cool Smashers for the 2024-2025 All-Filipino Conference. Save for her return in the Invitational Conference finals, Galanza was either abroad, or in street clothes for the remainder of the 2024 PVL season thanks to her national team duties.
“Happy lang naman po ako palagi na maglalaro sa Creamline kasi syempre, eto na ‘yung kinalakihan ko. Ang tagal ko na [sa Creamline]! Seven years na po ako, so ayun parang ito ‘yung comfort zone ko,” Galanza said after Creamline’s 25-22, 25-20, 30-32, 25-20 win over the Flying Titans on Tuesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“So every time na gusto ko ng kumpyansa sa sarili, and mabalik uli ‘yung laro na gusto ko mabalik [she turns to them], so ‘yun, super excited lang ulit na maglalaro din [uli] sa Creamline [this conference],” added Galanza, who finished with a team-high 24 points accompanied by nine excellent digs and 17 excellent receptions.
Jema Galanza has been with the Cool Smashers since the PVL’s 2017 Open Conference as part of its inaugural squad alongside current teammates Alyssa Valdez, Pau Soriano, and head coach Sherwin Meneses.
The San Pedro, Laguna native has won 10 championships with the Pink and White, including the 2024 titles that clinched a historic Grand Slam. Galanza has also copped a number of Best Outside Spiker plums, alongside Conference and Finals MVP honors throughout her ongoing stay with the Cool Smashers.
“Seven years ko nang kasama sila, and alam nila kung kailan ako hindi okay, kung kailan na okay ako, ganyan. So pag hindi ako okay, alam nila kung ano ‘yung gagawin nila, so parang ako, hindi ako natatakot din na makita nila ‘yung weakness ko kasi alam ko na nandyan sila para i-guide ako at suportahan nila,” she told The GAME in a follow-up chat.
With a full season ahead of her, Galanza is drawing extra motivation from her teammates’ overall competitiveness. Nevermind the time lost due to carrying the flag, as the Cool Smashers’ dedication to their craft is more than enough fuel for the national team stalwart to give her best every game.
She reflected, “Ako, lagi naman ako mamo-motivate talaga pag kasama sila kasi napaka-competitive ng mga teammates ko. So sino ka ba para ibalewala mo ‘yung ginagawa nila? So syempre kung ano ‘yung ginagawa nila, kailangan higitan mo pa para magaan ‘yung galaw nang bawa’t isa samin.”
Banner image courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.