THIS early, Adamson third-year open spiker Jessica Galanza has shown that she's ready to step into the leadership void left by former Lady Falcons Bang Pineda and Amanda Villanueva.
Galanza was the undisputed star in leading Adamson to a thrilling 25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 28-30, 16-14 win over University of Santo Tomas to start its campaign in the UAAP women's volleyball tournament at the Philsports Arena on Wednesday.
The 19-year old hard-hitting spiker registered Pineda- and Villanueva-like numbers as she sparkled on both ends of the floor with 28 points, scattered from 25 attacks and three service aces, and 10 digs.
"Isa na rin ako sa inaasahan ng team at saka lagi sinasabi ni coach na, 'Oh, Gema, gumawa ka dyan,'" said Galanza. "Kasi ako rin naman ang gagawa at gagawa pag nasa loob ng court at iniisip ko rin na lagi ako dapat may ginagawa sa court kasi isa ako sa mga leaders."
"Kasi sa past games namin ganon na ang ginagawa ko (opensa at depensa) kasi kailangan so hindi na rin ako nagulat (na ganon ang stats ko)," she added.
[See Lady Falcons off to a flyer, nips UST Tigresses in five-set thriller]
Adamson coach Sherwin Meneses noted that Galanza showed different facets of her game and a variety of ways to score, apart from her pet cross-court attacks.
"'Yun kasi ang pinag-aralan talaga namin (may variations ang palo) and (hindi na lang) cross court kasi ngayon siguro nag-mature na rin ako sa laro ko," she explained.
But Galanza was also quick to deflect the credit, stressing that it's the team effort that spelled the difference in their first game of the season.
"Siguro kaya kami nanalo kasi nandon 'yung puso namin at saka 'yung mindset namin na kailangan namin manalo. At nandoon din 'yung tapang namin," she said.
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