Creamline's Jema Galanza and Bea de Leon on the sidelines of Cool Smashers' PVL games. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA — Jema Galanza said Tuesday that she will be out for Creamline, at least for the year-ending 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference, after suffering a left foot injury.
The former Conference and Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) said she has been experiencing lingering pain in her left foot for around a year, prompting her to seek escalated medical attention.
"Actually, hindi namin alam. One year na siyang masakit, so nitong Invitational, parang ‘yung pain niya kasi every day ko na siya nafi-feel. Parang sinabihan ko na ‘yung PT ko na parang hindi na siya normal. So pina-MRI ko na, and then ‘yun nga may nakita ng something," Galanza told reporters.
Asked whether there's a timetable for her return, the former Adamson University standout said there's still none, citing the uncertainty of her injury.
She is also not part of Creamline's lineup for the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
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"Wala pa eh. Mahirap kasi siyang isugal kasi hindi nga namin alam kung naghi-heal na ba siya or saang stage na ‘yung injury ko. Kung naghi-heal na ba siya o naghi-heal pa lang or malala pa rin siya. So ang ano talaga namin ng coaches and ng PT na mag-focus talaga sa heal ng bone. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ako naka-boot."
Galanza said she stopped playing to prevent it from worsening, as it was described by her doctor as a potential "career-ending" setback.
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"‘Yun din ‘yung sabi sa’kin ng doctor na delikado rin if tinuloy ko kasi mas malaking chance na mag-end ‘yung career kapag lumala siya," she expressed.
"So mas nag-focus kami dun sa mas mag-heal na lang siya kesa isugal namin na hindi namin alam kung hanggang saan tatagal."
The 28-year-old star spiker said her teammates and the management are not rushing her return.
"Ang Creamline naman, ‘yung team, lagi namang nandyan siya to support and well, sad sila na hindi ako makakalaro pero nandun sila sa mas importante na maka-recover talaga and makabalik ako ng 100 percent," she said.
"‘Yun nga, mahaba pa ‘yung magiging career namin and ng season namin so ang daming taon na pwedeng makabawi. Ngayon, sabi nga nila may reason kung bakit nangyayari ‘to."