Lady Spikers remain ‘warriors’ despite losing Galang, says Maraño

MANILA, Philippines – Like true warring Archers, the De La Salle Lady Spikers plan to fight harder than ever for their fallen comrade.

Former La Salle team captain Aby Maraño was proud to say she barely saw a hint of hopelessness among the Lady Spikers despite losing team captain and ace spiker Ara Galang to a season-ending injury.

“No, they were all like warriors,” Maraño told Rappler when asked whether losing Galang dampened the spirits of the multi-titled squad.

“When we went there [inside the locker room] everyone was with Ara, naka-surround kami sa kanya (we surrounded her). We prayed over her,” the former La Salle standout shared what transpired in the moments after La Salle earned its 6th consecutive Finals berth last Saturday.

“When coach Ramil entered, he said yung Finals hindi na yun mapipigilan and kailangan nila harapin yun (the Finals can’t be stopped and they need to face it). Good thing I saw the girls act like warriors. Lahat gusto talagang suungin yung Finals with or without Ara. Talagang makikita mo may tapang (Everyone wanted to charge into the Finals with or without Ara. I really saw their bravery).”

La Salle is set to do battle against rivals Ateneo Lady Eagles in the UAAP Season 77 women’s volleyball tournament Finals on Wednesday, March 11. They will have to beat the defending champions thrice in order to avenge last season’s heartbreaking defeat.

This they have to do sans primary offensive weapon and leader Galang, who sustained tears in her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and medial miniscus. She also had a big bone bruise. The cause of the injuries was said to be fatigue.

She is expected to undergo surgery in a month once the swelling subsides.

With Galang sidelined, La Salle lost not only her scoring prowess, killer instincts, and takeover gene, but also her leadership and energy.

READ: Galang to Lady Spikers: ‘Season is not yet done’

“Siyempre kahit sino naman na maglaro na walang team captain malaking bagay yun e. Siguro (Maybe) it’s about time for other players to step up,” explained Maraño, who was captain of her squad during her last two playing years from Seasons 75 to 76. (Of course it’s a huge deal for anybody to play without their team captain.)

“Doon lalabas kung hanggang saan yung leadership nila, doon lalabas kung hanggang saan yung tapang nila. Sabi ko kung kaya nila malampasan ‘to with or without Ara, diyan mapapatunayan kung gaano kalakas yung team nila and kung gaano kalaki yung puso nila sa paglalaro.” 

(This will test their leadership, this will test their courage. I told them if they can get past this with or without Ara, it will prove just how strong their team really is and just how big their hearts are for the game.)

READ: Gorayeb: ‘Very difficult’ for Galang-less La Salle to beat Ateneo

Maraño, who was co-MVP with Galang in Season 75, said she expects Kim Fajardo, Cyd Demecillo, and Mika Reyes to step up to the plate and lead the team. They will badly need ample support from reserves including, Maraño said, Princess Tiu and Camille Cruz.

“Sa tingin ko teamwork na talaga ‘to e. Ito na yung moment where you can no longer depend on Ara. Hindi na sila magiisip na nandiyan si Ara so makakapuntos tayo,” said the current Petron Blaze Spiker in the Super Liga, adding that losing Galang may have been for the greater purpose of pushing the team. 

“Ang mindset for them ay lahat sila magbibigay ng puntos. And sa tingin ko for them to make up for Ara is ilabas nila yung collective skills and lahat sila gumalaw as one team, as one cohesive unit.”

(I think this will be about teamwork. This is the moment where you can no longer depend on Ara. They can no longer trust that Ara will be there to score for them. The mindset for them should be that everyone will score. And I think for them to make up for Ara they need to bring out their collective skills and everyone should play as one team, as one cohesive unit.)

With the odds stacked against the Lady Spikers, it will require creative strategy and proper mindset to overturn an undefeated and highly confident Lady Eagles, who has an explosive Alyssa Valdez to lead them.

But through their years of winning and losing championships, this, for Maraño, is but another speedbump on the road to glory. 

And the best way to overcome this adversity, she said, is to face it head on and ride with it.

“If you are able to turn that challenge into a motivation, and you can perform for the team because of that motivation then masasabi ko na ito yung magiging pinaka-sweetest victory for the team kung magagawa nila yun (then I can say that this will be the sweetest victory for the team if they can pull it off).” – Rappler.com