With the fate of her team hanging in the balance, Jema Galanza knew she had one last shot.
“Sabi nga ni coach, ako na lang ‘yung may bala,” she recounted, summoning every ounce of strength as Creamline battled Cignal in the deciding fifth set of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference gold medal match.
Thursday night’s finale was more than just another game for the Cool Smashers. It was the culmination of a long, grueling season. The team entered the Invitationals with high expectations but faced a major hurdle—key players Tots Carlos and Alyssa Valdez were sidelined due to injuries. Carlos and Valdez, both integral to Creamline's system, missed the entire Reinforced Conference, leaving a gaping hole in their roster.
Adding to their woes, Galanza herself had been unavailable for much of the season, having been called up by Alas Pilipinas to represent the national team. But just as the Invitational Conference preliminaries were closing, Galanza rejoined the squad, giving head coach Sherwin Meneses a crucial weapon as they headed into the final.
With Creamline’s grand slam aspirations on the line, the pressure was on. They faced a resurgent Cignal team bolstered by the return of their own Alas standouts, Dawn Catindig and Vanie Gandler. The battle was set, and it promised to be nothing short of epic.
Galanza, the 27-year-old from San Pedro, Laguna, was now tasked with shouldering the offensive load. After two consecutive tournaments, Meneses’ options were thinning, and he knew he needed Galanza to fire on all cylinders. Despite the physical toll of back-to-back competitions, the team had one final chance to achieve the elusive Triple Crown—something no other PVL team had accomplished.
The fifth set was a war of attrition, with both teams trading powerful attacks and crucial defensive stops. As Cignal’s Chin Basas and Riri Meneses set up a solid block, Galanza was determined to break through. She hammered a spike past the defenders, giving Creamline a 14-11 edge. But Cignal wasn’t ready to roll over just yet. Mafe Galanz’s attack error, followed by a fierce cross-court hit from MJ Perez, tightened the score to 14-13.
With Creamline just one point away from history, the pressure on Galanza reached its peak. It was now or never.
“Actually, kinakabahan po ako kasi kaunti lang ‘yung preparation namin. Halos ‘di talaga ako naka-training kasama sila, so ‘yun nga may kaba pero sa isip ko: ‘Ako na ‘to, tatapusin ko na ‘to para sa kanila,’” Galanza admitted after the match, revealing how the weight of the moment loomed over her.
On match point, Gel Cayuna set the ball for Galanza one final time. Galanza, who had struggled earlier in the match, knew she had to come through for her teammates. As she rose up to attack, the entire arena seemed to hold its breath. She aimed her shot carefully, going off the block and sending the ball flying toward the back row.
Ces Molina and Catindig, desperate to save the point, scrambled to keep the ball alive. But it was too late. The ball hit the floor, and the Cool Smashers erupted in celebration. They had done it. Creamline was now the first team in PVL history to complete a grand slam, winning all three conferences in a single season.
For Galanza, the victory was especially sweet. After a failed attempt at the Triple Crown two years prior, the Cool Smashers had finally reached the mountaintop, and Galanza was at the heart of their triumph. Despite her early struggles in the game, she finished with 11 crucial points, none more important than the one that sealed the match.
“Pag iniisip ko kasi ‘yung mga ganung games, ‘yung nga ang sarap sa feeling kasi ang sarap nung pressure sa mga games. Talagang gina-grab ko lang din kasi doon ko din matututo, medyo may kaba lang pero lagi lang sila ‘yung iniisip ko,” she reflected, emphasizing how the pressure fueled her performance.
Looking back, Galanza shared that it was her deep love and respect for her teammates that pushed her to deliver in the final moments. Creamline had faced adversity throughout the season, but they persevered together. That unity, according to Galanza, was what made the victory so special.
“Masasabi ko lang na ganoon ko sila ka-love, alam ko gaano sila kapagod sa dalawang magkasunod na [conference]. So kumbaga, sabi ni coach ako na lang ‘yung may bala kasi ako ‘yung may mahabang pahinga,” she said, acknowledging the toll the season had taken on her team.
The final point wasn’t just about securing a title—it was about giving back to her teammates, who had fought relentlessly to make it this far.
“So ako ‘yung chance din na makapaglaro, bibigay ko na rin naman ‘yung larong ‘to para sa kanila.”
