Ara Galang: De Jesus won't favor La Salle players for national team

MANILA, Philippines – After a long wait, the door of the national women’s volleyball team is slowly swinging open for Ara Galang when she participated in the first day of tryouts last Friday at the Arellano University gym.

The former UAAP Most Valuable Player liked what she saw.

Other former and current De La Salle University stars like Kianna Dy, Cha Cruz, Dawn Macandili, Majoy Baron, Mel Gohing, Aby Marano and Kim Fajardo were in attendance as well as Ramil de Jesus, the guru who guided the Lady Spikers to 10 UAAP finals appearance.

Another gem of a talent in Mika Reyes was supposed to show up, but had to beg off as her club team, Petron, was in the thick of its preparation for a crucial quarterfinal battle in the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix the following day.

Galang said she doesn’t see any problem with De Jesus handling the team.

In fact, the last time De Jesus handled the national squad, he picked only two players from La Salle, middle blocker Maureen Penetrante and libero Shermaine Penano, who provided the defensive backbone to the squad that captured the bronze medal in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in 2005.

“For me, I know that coach Ramil will not be biased in forming the team,” said Galang, the former Angeles University Foundation star who blossomed under the system of De Jesus.

“For sure, he won’t pick us just because we’re his former players. He would still carefully study and evaluate our strengths and weaknesses and whether we would fit into his system with the national team.”

True enough, with the kind of talent the pool has, De Jesus will have a tough time selecting the best of the best.

Former national team members Jaja Santiago and Alyssa Valdez are cinch to serve as cornerstones while Marano, Baron, Lourdes Clemente, Bea de Leon, CJ Rosario, Maika Ortiz and the returning Dindin Manabat are tipped to figure in a heated race for the middle blocker spot.

Of course, the setter position will also be a rumble as Jia Morado, jasmine Nabor, Rhea Dimaculangan, Fajardo and a walk-in aspirant in Filipino-Canadian Rebecca Rivera would definitely scramble for the spot.

Same goes in the libero position with three of the country’s best defenders in Gohing, Macandili and Kat Arado shooting for slots.

For one, the road to the national team will not be easy for Galang.

Before she makes it, she has to shine in a constellation of stars that includes Myla Pablo, Elaine Kasilag, MJ Philips, Royse Tubino, Rachel Anne Daquis, Frances Molina, Cruz and rising stars Bernadeth Pons, Jhoanna Maraguinot, Mylene Paat, Dy, Sisi Rondina and Diana Carlos.

The last time she made a bid to represent the country was three years ago when she was tapped by De Jesus to join a team formed by the Philippine Volleyball Federation.

This time, she’s preparing herself.

“I won’t feel bad. I’m ready whatever his (De Jesus’) decision is,” she said.

“This is a tryout. If ever I make it, I will be happy. If not, it’s okay because I trust coach Ramil. I know he will do whatever it is that would be for the good of the team.”

“But still, being part of the national team is a dream I want to achieve.”