Jessica Margarett "Jema" Casidsid Galanza (born November 28, 1996) is a Filipina volleyball player and former captain of the Adamson Soaring Lady Falcons volleyball team in the UAAP and a National Team Member. She also played for the Laoag Power Smashers during the 2016 SVL Reinforced Conference and has become one of the top spikers for the Creamline Cool Smashers since 2017 in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).[1][2]

Jema Galanza
Galanza attending award ceremonies at Adamson in 2024
Personal information
Full nameJessica Margarett Casidsid Galanza
Born (1996-11-28) November 28, 1996 (age 28)
HometownSan Pedro, Laguna, Philippines
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight61 kg (134 lb)
College / UniversityAdamson University
Volleyball information
PositionOutside hitter
Current clubCreamline Cool Smashers
Number15, 23
Career
YearsTeams
2016Laoag Power Smashers
2017–Creamline Cool Smashers
2021Rebisco Philippines
National team
2018–presentPhilippines
Honours
Women's volleyball
Representing  Philippines
SEA V.League
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Vĩnh Phúc Leg 1
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Nakhon Ratchasima Leg 2

Personal life

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Galanza was born and raised in San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines to Jesse and Fe Galanza. She went to San Pedro Relocation Center National High School, San Pedro, Laguna and earned her bachelor's degree at Adamson University.[3] She has three siblings and her youngest sister, Maria Fe "Mafe" Galanza,[4] played for the University of Santo Tomas' Golden Tigresses.

Galanza was previously in a relationship with former Ateneo Lady Eagles and Choco Mucho Flying Titans player Deanna Wong.[5] She is currently in a relationship with former Ateneo Lady Eagles and fellow Creamline Cool Smashers player Ella de Jesus.[6]

Career

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In 2013, Galanza debuted as a reserve player of Adamson University in the beach volleyball tournament.[7] She teamed up with star players Bang Pineda and Amanda Villanueva, and they completed a two-game championship sweep of the UAAP Season 76 women’s beach volleyball tournament against University of Santo Tomas.[8]

During her collegiate years, she played with the Adamson Lady Falcons and was the team captain in UAAP Season 80. Galanza is playing for the Creamline Cool Smashers in Premier Volleyball League along with Alyssa Valdez, Jia Morado, Michele Gumabao, and Tots Carlos.[9][10]

In 2018, Galanza played for the Philippine women's volleyball team[11] that competed in the 2018 Asian Women's Volleyball Cup held at Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.[12] During the 2018 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference, Galanza received the 2nd best outside spiker award[13] and together with the Creamline Cool Smashers, eventually won the championship.[14]

During the 2019 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference, she bagged the 1st Best Outside Spiker and Most Valuable Player of the Conference awards and won the third PVL championship title of her current team Creamline Cool Smashers.[15]

In 2021, Galanza was invited to the training pool of the Philippine national volleyball team who would compete in the 2021 Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship in Thailand from October 1 to 07, 2021.[16]

In 2022, Galanza was again called up in the final line-up of the Philippine national volleyball team and was set for her first SEA games appearance in Hanoi, Vietnam in May 2022.[17] At the Asian Women's Volleyball Championship later that year, she topscored with 21 points in the first win of the host Philippines over Iran.[18][19][20] Galanza also scored 18 points in the last two sets of their win in the AVC Cup classification match against Australia.[21]

Galanza and eventual MVP Tots Carlos led the Creamline Cool Smashers in winning the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the expense of KingWhale Taipei.[22]

Galanza also topscored for the Creamline Cool Smashers in Game 3 of the All-Filipino Conference Finals against the Petro Gazz Angels on March 30, 2023.[23][24]

In 2024, Galanza won her fifth Best Spiker award and earned the coveted Finals MVP plum after leading the Cool Smashers to their 4-peat and 8th title overall in the pro league.[25][26] Earlier in the year, she and her fellow Adamson University alumna Ana Santiago received their PSC–PCW Women in Sports Awards.[27]

Awards

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Individual

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Collegiate

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Club Team

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References

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  1. ^ Escarlote, Mark (June 13, 2017). "Cool Smashers out to claim third place trophy". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  2. ^ Velasco, Jillian (August 13, 2020). "From benchwarmer to MVP: Jema Galanza shines as a pro". Rappler. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  3. ^ "Adamson University". www.adamson.edu.ph. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Albelda, Josiah (January 13, 2018). "Mafe Galanza hopes to follow sister's footsteps in the UAAP". Akari Sports. Archived from the original on October 16, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  5. ^ Velasco, Jillian (August 19, 2020). "Galanza, Wong reveal early struggles in relationship". Rappler. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  6. ^ Mina, Inna (May 27, 2024). "Creamline's Jema Galanza reflects about future goals with partner Ella de Jesus". One Sports. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "From benchwarmer to MVP: Jema Galanza shines as pro". Rappler. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "Adamson ends UST's two-year reign, regains women's beach volley title". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  9. ^ Escarlote, Mark (September 13, 2018). "PVL Open Conference: Cool Smashers search for another title". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  10. ^ Velasco, Jillian (July 28, 2022). "Creamline reaches PVL Invitational semis, leaves Chery Tiggo at bottom". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  11. ^ Escarlote, Mark (September 7, 2018). "Galanza, Nabor earn National team spots". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  12. ^ Escarlote, Mark (September 14, 2018). "AVC Asian Cup: Team PHI marches into battle". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  13. ^ Escarlote, Mark (December 8, 2018). "PVL: Valdez earns Open Conference MVP honors". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  14. ^ Escarlote, Mark (December 8, 2018). "PVL: Cool Smashers crush Lady Eagles, rule Open Conference". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  15. ^ Cabildo, Leigh Nald (November 9, 2019). "Jema Galanza bags 2019 PVL Open Conference MVP". Rappler. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  16. ^ "Galanza grateful to be in national team pool". ESPN.com. August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  17. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (March 15, 2022). "Alyssa Valdez, Jaja Santiago lead PH volleyball team for SEA Games". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  18. ^ Verora, Levi (August 24, 2022). "Galanza 'proud' of PH's mindset vs China in AVC Cup". Sports Bytes Philippines. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  19. ^ Reyes, Kate (August 24, 2022). "Jema Galanza stands tall to lead a gallant PH stand vs China". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  20. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (August 24, 2022). "AVC Cup: Jema Galanza wills Creamline-PH past Iran for first win". Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  21. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (August 28, 2022). "'All heart': Jema Galanza plays through pain to lead Creamline-PH rally in AVC Cup". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  22. ^ Morales, Luisa (August 14, 2022). "Creamline schools KingWhale to clinch PVL Invitational crown". Philstar. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  23. ^ Lance, Agcaoili (March 30, 2023). "Creamline beats Petro Gazz anew to win fourth PVL All-Filipino title". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  24. ^ Bolima, Martin Dale (March 30, 2023). "Tots Carlos bags third MVP as Creamline dominates PVL All-Filipino awards list". Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  25. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (May 12, 2024). "Jema Galanza named PVL Finals MVP in Creamline's latest title win". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  26. ^ Valencia, Justin (May 12, 2024). "Jema Galanza takes home PVL Finals MVP in dramatic series vs Choco Mucho". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  27. ^ "Philippine Sports Commission: Women In Sports 2024 complete list of awardees". Journal News Online. March 24, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  28. ^ Rile, Nicole (April 18, 2021). "V-League Diaries: Volleyball's 5 Open Spikers that Brough Back Philippine Volleyball". The POST. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  29. ^ Ramos, MJF (June 22, 2015). "Soaring Falcons win intercollegiate volleyball c'ship; Lady Falcons settle for runner-up finish". The Adamson News. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  30. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (March 31, 2023). "Eager to finish the job for Creamline, Jema Galanza showcases reliability anew". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  31. ^ Reyes, Marc Anthony (April 8, 2022). "PVL: Creamline completes sweep to claim Open Conference title". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  32. ^ Anzures, Rom (May 12, 2024). "PVL: Creamline reigns over Choco Mucho anew to claim 2024 All-Filipino crown". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 13, 2024.