PVL All-Star: Erika Santos, Jema Galanza emerge as new favorites in latest All-Star fan voting returns 

The 2026 Volleyball All-Star Showcase is beginning to look less like a popularity contest dominated by familiar stars and more like a snapshot of where fan energy is shifting across the sport.

When the second fan vote returns were released, the biggest takeaway was not just who remained on top—it was how many new challengers forced their way into the conversation.

 Across both Team Heart and Team Hustle, several races tightened, a few established names were pushed down the ladder, and a wave of momentum from rising or resurgent players suddenly changed the complexion of the event.

Nowhere was that shift more obvious than in the outside hitter race for Team Heart, where injured Jema Galanza still managed to surge to the top. Despite being sidelined, the Creamline Cool Smashers star climbed past Bella Belen and teammate Alyssa Valdez, claiming 27.15 percent of the votes and proving that fan loyalty can remain strong even without recent on-court visibility.

Belen, one of the most productive players of the conference, still held firm in a starting spot with 16.03 percent, while Valdez dropped to third at 15.48 percent. That trio alone shows how crowded and competitive the wing race has become, with star power, current form, and fanbase strength all colliding in one category.

But if one player truly made a statement in the latest tally, it may have been Erika Santos. The Cignal Super Spikers standout made one of the sharpest climbs in any category, taking command of the Team Heart opposite hitter race with 44.57 percent of the vote. In doing so, she overtook Ara Galang of Farm Fresh Foxies, who slipped to second with 27.11 percent.

That rise feels especially notable given how Cignal’s recent surge has translated into stronger fan support. Santos is not just benefiting from name recall—she is being rewarded for relevance, and the voting reflects that.

A similar trend emerged in the middle blocker race, where Jeanette Panaga of Creamline continued to anchor the top spot with 33.39 percent. But the more eye-catching development was the jump made by MJ Phillips of Nxled Chameleons, who rose all the way from fifth in the first returns to second with 21.56 percent.

That kind of leap suggests fans are not simply voting based on established hierarchy anymore. Strong stretches, breakout performances, and timely visibility are beginning to carry more weight, making the All-Star race feel more fluid than usual.

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SHAKE-UP AT THE TOP!

The Premier Volleyball League All-Star race continues to roll as Team Heart and Team Hustle see some changes!

Vote now at https://t.co/LblLh9bVzw — voting runs until April 11! #PVL2026 | #TheHeartOfVolleyball pic.twitter.com/GISN70JnsI

— Premier Volleyball League (@pvlph) March 30, 2026

Elsewhere on Team Heart, some categories have remained more stable. Justine Jazareno of Akari Chargers continues to dominate the libero race with 50.48 percent, while Jia De Guzman remains the runaway leader at setter with a commanding 79.91 percent.

Over on Team Hustle, however, the reshuffling may have been even more dramatic.

The biggest mover there was Alyssa Eroa, who pulled off one of the most impressive jumps in the latest returns. After sitting in fourth place with just 10.55 percent in the first tally, the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles libero vaulted to first with 35.22 percent, overtaking Kathleen Arado of PLDT High Speed Hitters, who now sits second at 23.33 percent.

That swing alone may be one of the clearest examples of how quickly All-Star momentum can change once fan campaigns and recent performances begin to sync.

The outside hitter race on Team Hustle has also tightened into one of the event’s most compelling battles. Bernadeth Pons of Creamline still holds the slimmest of leads with 32.89 percent, but Eya Laure of Choco Mucho Flying Titans is now right behind her with 32.08 percent.

That razor-thin margin makes it one of the few categories where the next update could easily flip the order again, especially with both players carrying strong support and wide visibility.

At opposite spiker, Tots Carlos has created more breathing room than anyone else in her bracket. The Creamline scorer widened her advantage to 54.08 percent, while Kim Kianna Dy of PLDT remained in second with 21.81 percent.

Meanwhile, the Team Hustle middle blocker race remains split between two proven frontcourt names, with Mika Reyes of PLDT at 26.24 percent and Fifi Sharma of Akari at 30.23 percent. At setter, Kim Fajardo continues to hold firm control with 59.42 percent.

What the second returns make clear is that this year’s All-Star voting is no longer being shaped by reputation alone.

The stars are still there, and many of them remain in strong positions. But increasingly, the board is being pushed by players whose recent form, visibility, and momentum have made them impossible for fans to ignore.

And if these latest numbers are any indication, the race for the final starting spots is only getting more unpredictable. 

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