A THIRD star has emerged for the UST women’s volleyball team in rookie setter Mafe Galanza.
Head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. likes what he’s seeing in the 18-year-old standout, describing her as the team’s missing piece.
“Siya ‘yong matagal ng kailangan ng team. Nasa kaniya lahat ng criteria na hinahanap ko for a setter kasi kontrolado niya lahat ng atake, he told the Varsitarian. “Napapagalaw at nabibigay niya ‘yong highest percentage ng position for the spikers to kill the ball at may consistency sa bawat bato niya.”
While team captain Sisi Rondina and top rookie Eya Laure have been focused on scoring, Galanza has quietly become a key player in UST’s impressive campaign in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.
The Golden Tigresses relied on Galanza’s setting, which propelled them to a 6-3 win-loss record in the tournament.
“Noong una, sobra akong conscious kung magiging pangit ba o hindi ‘yong laro ko pero ngayon wala na akong gustong gawin kung hindi manalo talaga,” the Laguna-native said in an interview.
Coming from a family of athletes, Galanza always seemed destined for sports.
She started playing in fourth grade under the tutelage of his father Jessie at the Pacita Elementary School in Laguna.
The Galanza name has been widely known in the UAAP since her older sister Jema made a mark as the former outside hitter of the Adamson University Lady Falcons.
Mafe said she initially aspired to be a Lady Falcon but decided to join the Golden Tigresses to step out of her sister’s shadows.
She was discovered by Reyes in the Southern Tagalog Calabarzon Athletic Association tournament when she played for San Pedro Relocation Center National High School in 2017.
“Dati kasi naisip ko na sa Adamson na lang ako kasi doon galing si ate pero noong nag-senior high school na ako, naisip ko na gusto kong gumawa ng sarili kong pangalan,” the younger Galanza said.
Since starting her career in 2009, the 5’4” Sports and Wellness Management freshman has already copped several awards, including the Best Center Women’s Volleyball League Best Setter and Best Server awards in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
She was also a part of the Philippine Girls’ National Volleyball Team that won bronze in the 2017 Asean Schools Games in Singapore and the recently-announced Under-23 women’s national volleyball pool.
With UST’s stellar campaign this season, Mafe is confident that the Golden Tigresses can make it back to the Final Four.
“Ibibigay ko lang ang best ko every game kasi lahat naman kami sa team isa lang ‘yong goal, ‘yong mabalik ang korona sa España,” she said.
The Golden Tigresses will next face three-time defending champion De La Salle University Lady Spikers on March 31, Sunday, 4 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena.
