BARBIE Jamili spent years watching her fellow ex-Adamson winger Jema Galanza become one of the faces of Philippine volleyball.
Now, she gets to call her a teammate.
Creamline’s decision to select the former Adamson standout with the eighth overall pick in the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft has brought together two generations of Lady Falcons, pairing one of the league's most accomplished outside hitters with one of the position’s most intriguing young prospects.
For Jamili, the reality of that partnership is one she still couldn’t get a grip of just yet.
“Mixed emotions po kasi hindi ko talaga in-expect na mapi-pick ako,” she said.
The emotions quickly shifted from surprise to disbelief when she realized who would be waiting for her in the Cool Smashers locker room.
“Na-starstruck po ako sa kanila at ang sarap po sa feeling kasi hindi ko po talaga in-expect. Lahat po ng skills, nasa kanya (Galanza) at isa po ‘to sa dream ko rin talaga,” Jamili said of Galanza.
The admiration comes as little surprise, as Galanza’s rise from Lady Falcons standout to PVL MVP has made her one of the benchmarks for aspiring wing spikers. Now, she finds herself helping usher in a younger player on that same journey.
And even better, in many ways, Jamili arrives at the perfect time.
“Pinag-usapan namin (Creamline) na matatanda na ‘yung mga outside hitters namin. Pinakabata na po, 29, kaya sobrang happy na dumagdag na si Ishie [Lalongisip] then si Jamili na mas bata,” Galanza said.
Creamline has openly acknowledged its need to inject youth into a roster that has dominated for years. After adding Lalongisip earlier, the Cool Smashers further fortified their future with the drafting of Jamili.
“For sure, mas maraming matututunan pa and alam naman natin kung paano siya maglaro, na talagang all-around din siya,” Galanza added.
Come on, Barbie, let's go practice
For her part, Jamili is not arriving with expectations of instant stardom.
Instead, she hopes to absorb as much as possible from a championship-winning culture and from veterans she once only watched on TV.
“Ibibigay ko lang po ‘yung best ko, kung ano pong meron ako, and I’m willing to learn din po sa mga magiging bagong ates ko po,” she said.
“If I have a chance na mapasok, i-all-out ko po para mas ma-improve pa ‘yung laro ko. Super excited na kinakabahan dahil iba ‘yung challenges and pressure sa PVL kaya all-out.”
Galanza, however, believes the adjustment period may not last long.
“Feeling ko rin kasi, merong vibes kami na nakikita sa some players. Feeling ko, kapag may dumarating na bago sa amin, nakakasabay din sila agad sa kung anong merong vibe ‘yung team,” she said.
“Hindi kami nahihirapan talaga kapag may bago. Talagang madali silang lapitan, madali rin nila kami nalalapitan. Hindi rin kasi mahirap makisama if good vibes ka rin talaga. Si Jamili naman, sobrang nagsa-smile lang siya, sobrang mabait na bata. I think makaka-cope agad siya.”
As excited as Jamili is to learn from Galanza, the former PVL MVP is equally eager to take on the role of mentor.
“Na-e-excite ako sa kung anong kaya ko maitulong sa kanya and nakaka-excite ‘yung feeling kasi sobrang tagal bago nagkaroon ulit ng bagong outside hitter,” Galanza said.
“Hindi ko rin alam kung ano pa ‘yung maibibigay ko sa kanya, pero excited lang ako na makasama sila sa training.”
For Creamline, Jamili is another piece of the future. For Jamili, Galanza is a dream teammate.
And for Adamson volleyball, it is the coming together of two generations of beauty and brawn under one championship banner.
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