Tears were aplenty after the Creamline-powered Philippines finished off mighty Australia in five sets, 21-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 15-12, Sunday afternoon to move to the battle for fifth place.
For Jema Galanza who let all the emotions out after the two-hour nineteen-minute affair, those tears were for many reasons.
“Siguro dahil ito sa sobrang saya ko, siguro sa pagod na rin dahil wala, dire-diretso talaga ‘yung laro namin,” said 2019 PVL Open Conference MVP who tallied 18 points, five coming off the all-important fifth frame.
The native of San Pedro, Laguna also said that those tears were for the non-believers of Creamline, the recent PVL champion, who accepted PNVF's invitation to represent the country with a few weeks to go before the start of the 2022 PNVF AVC Cup for Women.
Whether it be fifth or sixth, it will be the country's best finish in the continental cup.
“Siguro naiisip ko lang ‘yung mga taong hindi nagtitiwala sa team namin pero nagawa namin makapunta dito kung nasaan kami ngayon,” continued the 25-year-old Galanza.
“Sobrang happy lang din talaga ako sa ginawa ng team kasi talagang lumaban.”
Galanza then bared that she was playing hurt against Australia.
She suffered the minor injury in their quarterfinals game against Thailand last Saturday.
“Nandoon pa rin, hindi ganoon talaga ka 100 percent pero siguro puso na lang din talaga ‘yung nandito and arcoxia."
But even with her playing hurt, and the whole team gassed out due to a killer schedule, the Cool Smashers will still go all out in their match tomorrow.
The battle for fifth game against Chinese Taipei will be at 1 pm at the same venue.
“Nandito na kami eh, bakit pa namin pakakawalan ‘di ba?” shared Galanza.
“Ito na ‘yung pinakamataas na mapupuntahan ng Philippines sa AVC so ipupush talaga namin and ilalaban namin kung anong kaya namin bukas.”
