After four months on the sidelines, a healthy Jema Galanza finally returned to the Taraflex, making her comeback to professional volleyball in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference after recovering from a major foot injury.
The return, however, came with a tough result, as the PLDT High Speed Hitters spoiled Galanza’s comeback, handing the Creamline Cool Smashers a straight-sets loss, 22-25, 17-25, 23-25.
“Siguro, may excitement na may kaba. Nakakapanibago na ngayon lang ulit nakabalik. Nakakalungkot lang na kinulang,” Galanza said after the match.
“Actually, wala namang pressure o wala naman akong inisip talaga. ’Yung pagkasanay lang kung paano ka maglalaro sa loob kasi four months din akong di naglaro. Ang tagal ko ring di na-feel ’yung pressure, ’yung laro, ganyan. Siguro, naninibago lang.”
Jema Galanza Upbeat for Creamline
Despite the loss, Galanza expressed confidence in Creamline’s core, particularly with Jia De Guzman and Bernadeth Pons also making their returns. De Guzman spent the last three years on international duty, playing in Japan with the Denso Airybees and winning a gold and a silver medal, while Pons stepped away from indoor volleyball to focus on beach volleyball with the Philippine national team, where she captured gold in the recent Southeast Asian Games.
“Actually, nung start ng training, nakaka-excite na lahat kumpleto na kami. Ayun, ’di nga namin alam ano ang mangyayari, sino ang first six, o ano ang itatakbo ng training namin, pero ngayong game lang, sad lang talaga na kinulang,” Galanza said.
“Pero alam naman din namin na ang tagal na naming magkakasama, magkakakilala. Alam naman din namin na makakabawi kami sa next games this conference.”
Jema Galanza and Creamline look to bounce back when it faces the Cignal Super Spikers on Saturday, February 15, at 4:00 p.m., at the FilOil Centre.
