SHORT hair, don’t care.
Jema Galanza sported a new yet familiar pixie cut, one she used to have back in her UAAP days with Adamson and in her early years with Creamline.
It became a lucky charm of sorts, as Galanza’s 10-point, six-dig double-double propelled the Cool Smashers to their 18th consecutive PVL semifinals trip in the 2025 On Tour.
Such a sudden hairstyle switch-up was nothing serious and had no deeper meaning, one Galanza described as merely experimental during Creamline’s 19-day break before its quarterfinals win over Farm Fresh.
“Extreme lang ako mag-experiment sa style ng hair ko. Minsan, kapag parang trip ko mag-short hair, naghahanap ako sa TikTok kung ano yung bagay. Siyempre, humingi naman ako ng advice sa partner ko kung ok ba siya, and ok naman siya,” Galanza shared with SPIN.ph.
“Ano lang talaga ako, nabo-bore. Wala 'kong magawa sa self ko masyado and wala akong reason masyado sa hair ko. Gusto ko lang ng bago.”
While Galanza was one to seek change, her team had no plans of doing so.
READ: Here's Creamline's not-so secret to 18 straight PVL semis trips
Creamline still hasn’t missed the semifinal round of all 18 PVL tournaments it has competed in since the club and league’s inception in 2017.
Not always glitz and glamour
Galanza admitted, however, that being under the microscope for so long with a consistently dominant powerhouse team has had its fair share of pros and cons.
Earlier this year, the 28-year-old ace spiker bared having to deal with personal struggles that took a toll on her mind and body.
As the Cool Smashers' pursuit of longevity rolls on, Galanza made the most of her spare time during their brief mid-preseason break to gather herself again and restore her vintage form that would mimic the last time she had short hair years ago.
“Ngayon, mas naha-handle ko na siya at mas magaan yung feeling. Mas kalmado ko siyang nahaharap. ‘Di ko naman na siya na-feel ulit,” she said.
“Nabigyan din kami ng break to think kung ano yung nangyari last conference kaya nakapag-reflect ako sa mga nangyari kaya mas hindi ko na siya iniisip. Kung ma-feel ko siya ulit, kaya ko na siya kasi alam ko na yung gagawin ko.”
And so, with her and Creamline just having been dethroned four months ago, taking the good with the bad is a life lesson Galanza hopes to keep remembering moving forward.
“Mas ina-accept ko kung ano yung trabaho and kailangan kong i-accept kung ano yung purpose ko para sa team. Accept din if ever kung kunyari may mga hindi inaasahan sa game na ma-off,” she said.
“Ganun talaga at ‘di mo kailangang ma-feel bad kasi tao ka lang. Accept lang, improve ka lang ulit, at mag-training ka lang ulit. Balik ka lang ulit sa core mo.”
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