Why Jema Galanza is signed as libero for the FIVB Challenger Cup

AFTER her eighth Premier Volleyball League (PVL) title with Creamline, Jema Galanza strengthened Alas Pilipinas’ core of young talents and veterans in preparation for the 2024 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup, held from July 4 to 7 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

But observant fans quickly noticed an odd detail in the player list that appeared on the tournament’s website: Galanza was listed as a libero instead of her natural role as a winger.

Should Chery Tiggo duo Eya Laure and Jen Nierva both miss the Challenger Cup, Alas will be left with three outside forwards, excluding Galanza: newcomer Bella Belen, Sisi Rondina and Vanie Gandler.

PHOTO: Sherwin Vardeleon

But more importantly, Nierva’s possible absence could leave the national team with just one natural libero in Dawn Macandili-Catindig.

Will Jema REALLY play libero?

Unfortunately, Galanza taking on the role of libero is certainly not a random choice.

In fact, the men’s team featured another MVP-caliber star, Josh Ybañez, as libero during Alas’ AVC Challenge Cup stint in Bahrain last June.

Galanza finished the preliminary rounds of the recently concluded 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference in the Top 10 of the digging section (2.55 excellent digs per set) – one of only two spikers in the list, aside from reigning MVP Brooke Van Sickle who finished at seventh place.

The five-time PVL best winger and former MVP also had the second-highest number of excellent and attempted receptions for a non-libero with 84 of 183 total receptions (41.53% efficiency), behind Akari’s Grethcel Soltones (97 of 201; 44.28% efficiency).

Unfortunately, head coach Jorge Souza de Brito gave two concrete reasons why Galanza was thrown into the mix for the second libero role: Nierva’s expected absence and a minor foot injury.

“So far we don’t have Jen (Nierva) and Eya (Laure) from Chery and we can’t bring in new players, so we have to find one within our group. But (it’s) not yet confirmed who (the second libero) will be,” de Brito said SPIN.ph on sunday evening.

PHOTO: Sherwin Vardeleon

“(Jema Galanza) hasn’t jumped for a few days because she fell on her foot. It was painful, but like I said before, not decided yet.”

Galanza has been doing better since the incident and is making up for lost time before the Challenger Cup kicks off.

“Something happened (to Jema’s foot). Now she feels better, but she hasn’t jumped for days.”

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Whether on offense or defense, Galanza is all set for her Alas debut on July 5 against regional top talent Vietnam in the knockout quarterfinals.

The Challenger Cup champion secures the last coveted spot for the 2025 edition of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

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