Amid an already decorated career, Ara Galang is headed to her first-ever PVL Finals as Chery Tiggo ended a three-year wait for a championship berth.
Ara Galang's patience and persistence have finally paid off.
After years of waiting, Galang is set to play in her first-ever PVL Finals as the Chery Tiggo Crossovers punched their ticket to the championship match with a 25–17, 16–25, 25–21, 25–23 semifinal win over the Cignal HD Spikers on Tuesday, August 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
It marks the Crossovers’ first Finals appearance since capturing the 2021 Open Conference title, the league’s inaugural professional tournament.
“Medyo matagal-tagal na rin [pero] talagang nandun ‘yung hunger and eagerness ko para makuha nito,” Galang told reporters after the match. “Hindi lang naman din ako ‘yung magtatrabaho dito. So tatrabuhin namin ito as a team.”
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The 30-year-old opposite hitter finished with 15 points built on 14 attacks and a block, spearheading a well-balanced Chery Tiggo offense alongside Cess Robles and rookie Renee Peñafiel.
No stranger to success in all the leagues she has been in, Galang credited the Crossovers’ unity as a defining factor in their Finals run.
“‘Yung teamwork kasi mahalaga na, ‘yun nga sinasabi, hindi lang yung isa. So lahat kami nagko-contribute. So mahalaga na mag-stay kami gano'n. ‘Yung unity namin, ‘yung as one kami,” she said.
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More than the team’s success, reaching the PVL on Tour Finals is also a big step for Galang, who had to deal with several injuries over the past years.
Through it all, the former DLSU star learned something valuable that she continues to hold to this day.
“Siguro mahalaga lang, bigay mo lang yung best mo,” Galang emphasized. “At least alam mo sa sarili mo binigay mo lahat mo. Minsan kasi, yun nga, minsan di naman 100% talaga lagi. Pero kung 70% ka ngayon, bigay mo yung 70% mo.”
“Kung ano ‘yung natitira mong kaya, basta bigay mo lang ng bigay.”
Galang and the Crossovers now awaits the winner between the Creamline Cool Smashers and PLDT High Speed Hitters for the PVL on Tour Finals showdown on Sunday, August 17, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.