Khat Bell, left, and Ara Galang team up to lead Chery Tiggo past Nxled in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Khat Bell is thrilled to be on the same side as Ara Galang this time in the PVL after years of facing each other in her previous stints in the country.
Bell and Galang, who used to be rivals, led Chery Tiggo to its second straight win in Pool A after sweeping Nxled, 25-16, 25-20, 25-23, in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday at Philsports Arena.
The American import, who last played in Manila four years ago, is grateful to get a chance to team up with Galang after their several duels in the 2018 and 2019 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix, where the former led the defunct Petron to back-to-back titles against F2 Logistics.
READ: PVL: Khat Bell powers Chery Tiggo past Nxled
Bell on teaming up with former rival Galang. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/4Z1rdTcOjW
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 20, 2024
“It’s definitely less stressful having her on my team. I watched her the last two seasons that I’ve been here. She’s absolutely amazing,” said Bell, who scored 21 points. “I admire her work ethic as well, and just seeing her grow her game as an attacker from the opposite has been great. She’s attacking a lot higher and a lot more than the last few years, and the strength is insane.”
“I can tell she’s been in the gym working hard and I’m just so glad to have her as a teammate and not as an opponent anymore,” she added.
Galang is honored to play with the longtime Philippine reinforcement as she no longer needs to trade attacks with Bell and dig her hard hits.
“Sobrang amazing siyang kalaban at siyempre, ngayon, na kakampi pa, mas okay. Super happy na siyempre, kasama ko na siya ngayon sa court na nagtutulungan kami ngayon,” said the veteran wing spiker. “Happy ako na nakapagcontribute ako sa team para manalo na yun naman din yung ginogoal ko.”
READ: PVL: Ara Galang channeling her inner ‘Hanamichi Sakuragi’
Bell credited coach KungFu Reyes and her teammates for their 2-0 start in Pool A before facing Galeries Tower on Thursday.
“The girls played amazing. Every time someone came in, for somebody else, they did what they were supposed to do. Our player of the game (Galang) was amazing. Really helped to have her have my back tonight so it was a great effort all-around,” the American spiker said. “Everyone’s humble. They already know what the mindset is and what the goal is, so they don’t have to be too dependent on me in terms of directing. But it’s just about going to the court and getting onto the next game.”
“He (coach KungFu) also does a great job of making sure he’s pretty hard on us during practice. I’m really about enjoying the win for those 24 hours, and after that, it’s the next game,” she added.