In a celebration befitting a volleyball queen, Jema Galanza's initial birthday wish came true as Creamline dominated Chery Tiggo in four sets, preserving their flawless record in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference.
Sporting a radiant smile, Galanza conveyed her happiness, stating, "Of course, I'm happy because we won on my birthday," after spending more than 10 minutes engaging with her loyal fans who traveled to Philsports Arena to commemorate her 27th birthday.
The triumph over Chery Tiggo marked the beginning of Galanza's birthday dreams, with her eyes set on two more goals: securing the championship and ensuring the overall well-being of all teams in the league. The reigning All-Filipino Conference Second Best Outside Spiker displayed her skills with an outstanding performance, contributing 16 points, including 13 attacks, two blocks, and one ace, along with 18 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions.
Galanza's exceptional play played a crucial role in guiding the Cool Smashers through a demanding match against the formidable Crossovers. Despite a setback in the second set that allowed Chery Tiggo to equalize, Creamline exhibited resilience in the subsequent sets, ultimately halting the opponent's six-game winning streak.
Reflecting on the intense match, Galanza stressed the importance of maintaining focus, stating, "It showed us in this game that we can't relax because they can catch up if we're careless."
Looking ahead, Creamline's schedule includes a match against Akari on Thursday and Galeries Tower on December 5 to conclude the elimination round. Galanza is committed to leading the Cool Smashers to victory in these remaining games, aiming for a perfect record heading into the semifinals.
"Of course, we also want to finish the elimination round with all wins. In our upcoming games, we will study how we move on the court. If there's a chance for other teammates to play, why not," said Galanza. "It's better that everyone is really able to prepare because this semifinal is quite challenging, and for sure, everyone wants to make it to the finals. So, it's a good preparation for us."
