Ara Galang: An untimely farewell to the season

With two sets under their belt late in the fourth set of the heated stepladder semifinal match between the DLSU Lady Spikers and the NU Lady Bulldogs, the La Salle crowd rejoiced when team captain Ara Galang scored DLSU’s 23rd point through NU’s block.

La Salle inched closer to a finals rematch against the ADMU Lady Eagles, but this euphoria was short lived as Galang was seen on the floor wincing in pain while holding on to her left knee after the attack. She was later on carried out of the court on a stretcher so that the match, one that the Lady Spikers eventually won, could continue.

What was supposed to be rousing sweet victory turned out to be a bittersweet one as the Taft-based squad will enter the finals on March 11 without their top scorer and leader.

An unexpected blow

Galang was diagnosed with Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL), and medial meniscus tears aside from the big bone bruise she suffered.

Her injury came as a shock to everyone, especially during this crucial stage in their quest to reclaim the UAAP title from the undefeated Lady Eagles. La Salle’s head coach Ramil De Jesus did not expect Galang’s injury, especially because he ensures that all of his players undergo proper conditioning drills during training. He shares, “Every practice naman maayos [ang] ipinapakita niya so aksidente lang siguro talaga.”

As of press time, Galang is undergoing physical therapy in preparation for her surgery, which will happen in a month’s time as doctors are allowing her knee swelling to subside before proceeding. After the surgery, Galang is expected to rest and rehabilitate for about eight to 10 months before she can return to action.

Wasted momentum

The fourth year player from Angeles City, Pampanga had a bright rookie season in the UAAP. In UAAP Season 74, she was hailed the Rookie of the Year and the Best Server in addition to winning her first ever championship in the league.

The following season, she was crowned the UAAP Season 75 co-Most Valuable Player (MVP) together with teammate Abigail Maraño. She also won her second straight UAAP Women’s Volleyball title. With such achievements in her collegiate career, has become Galang one of the most celebrated volleyball players of her generation.

Her mentor’s take

With the two-time champion’s sudden exit from the season, de Jesus admitted that it will be difficult for the rest of the team to adjust and get rid of the despair brought about by the incident, but he noted that they have to move on and get ready for the finals. “Kailangan magmove-on eh. Hindi pwedeng huminto dahil wala si Ara,” he says.

The tenured La Salle mentor also acknowledged the skeptics who say that the Lady Spikers might not win the championship this season because of Galang’s absence and Ateneo’s newfound confidence. However, he maintains the idea that the finals are still be anybody’s game. “Bilog yung bola eh. Baka mas maging motivation pa ng mga bata yung nawala si Ara,” he shares.

What happened to Galang shocked not just the UAAP, but the entire Philippine volleyball community. No one expected that a player of her caliber would suffer such injuries in a time when her teammates need her most.

Despite ending her season too early, de Jesus expressed that he is happy for what Galang has shown this season, especially as a first time team captain of the Lady Spikers. “Yung bata kasi na ‘yun, kahit medyo may nararamdaman o may masakit na parte sa katawan, hindi basta-basta umaayaw. Hindi mo mapapahindi,” he comments.

He then expressed the highest of compliments to Galang as he quips, “Siguro kung maghahanap ka ng isang player, yung [tipong] Ara Galang talaga ang hahanapin mo.”