SIX bona fide stars from the tight-knit La Salle-slash-F2 Logistics core will be split into a veteran Chery Tiggo power duo and a quartet of decorated PLDT aces come the 2025 PVL on Tour finals.
READ: Ara Galang dedicates PVL Finals debut to her 'OG believers'
Together, Kianna Dy, Majoy Baron, Kim Fajardo, Mika Reyes, Ara Galang and Aby Maraño all crossed paths in UAAP Season 76 as the Lady Spikers’ central unit 11 years ago.
Sans Maraño, the remaining quintet saw action altogether for the next two seasons before Reyes and Galang left after Season 78, Fajardo after Season 79, and Dy and Baron after Season 80 — all three being title-winning seasons for heralded mentor Ramil de Jesus' Taft towers.
They’d also see action as Cargo Movers altogether from 2016 in the Philippine Superliga (PSL) before Reyes jumped ship to rival Petron in what became the defunct league’s greatest championship rivalry.
When F2 Logistics disbanded in 2023, that six-woman core sans PLDT mainstay Reyes had to part ways to different PVL clubs.
A green-and-white quartet would be formed within the High Speed HItters upon acquiring Dy, Baron and Fajardo to join Reyes.
Galang and Maraño began their new journeys as Crossovers.
'Everything happens for a reason'
For KKD, as all six of them reach the PVL Finals for the first time, the abrupt end of their time together led them to thrive in different paths while carrying that La Salle-slash-F2 Logistics’ winning DNA with them.
“Mini-reunion pero sa Sunday, hindi muna kami friends,” Dy said in jest.
“I’m very happy also for them. We were able to watch a little of their game and they really fought hard for the finals spot so let’s see sa Sunday.
“It’s weird seeing them on the other side of the court but you know, everything happens for a reason. I guess we were really meant to go our separate ways. Ngayon, it’s gonna be nice to play against them.”
As Reyes also put it, “Exciting talaga [na makalaban sila]. Ayaw ko naman i-jinx or whatever pero excited talaga kaming lahat [sa finals].”
Eyes on the prize, the Lasallian-F2 way
One of the many things they’ve learned in over a decade of playing together is to always keep their eyes on the prize.
Come Sunday, Galang has her sights set on championship gold and not the years of memories and nostalgia standing opposite to her on the court.
“Regardless kung sinong kalaban namin, mahalaga kasi yung galaw namin as a team eh. Kahit sinong kalaban namin, kung magiging composed kami as a team, kung nandyan yung teamwork namin, hindi na rin magiging factor kung sinong katapat namin,” Galang said.
“Mas gusto ko ring mag-focus na lang sa kung anong makakaya ng team ko.”
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