When Jema Galanza returned for Adamson IN the opening game of the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament, the dazzling hitter did not exactly light up anyone’s eyes.
Galanza, who injured her right ankle in an offseason tournament, scored just six points in the Lady Falcons’ four-set loss to National University.
Sensing her own subpar performance, Adamson’s angelic skipper bounced back and bewitched Far Eastern University in the Lady Falcons’ thrilling five-set win, 25-23, 19-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-12.
Galanza finished with 26 points, the second-highest scoring output so far in the tournament behind Cherry Rondina’s 28 for University of Santo Tomas, as she led the Lady Falcons to a 1-1 record.
“I know my injury isn’t that fully healed yet, but my mentality is there,” said Galanza in Filipino Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre. “My mentality is back and when you believe in yourself and when your mind is ready the body will just follow suit.”
Galanza dueled against FEU’s Bernadeth Pons, who had 22 points, but Adamson’s skipper proved too much for the Lady Tamaraws in crunch time.
The 21-year-old Galanza put Adamson at the 14-10 match point with a two-hand dump and she then finished off the Lady Tamaraws with a pinpoint kill that soundly rested in the middle of FEU’s defense.
Galanza said their win be huge morale booster not only for her team but also for herself especially since she came off an injury.
“I feel that I’m going back to my usual self,” said Galanza. “Mentally I think I lost confidence after I got injured, but after this one my confidence is starting to show and I hope this continues.”