MANILA – Japanese sports manga series "Slam Dunk" has impacted a lot of Filipino children, including Chery Tiggo's Ara Galang.

Galang has likened her hairstyle to "Slam Dunk" protagonist Hanamichi Sakuragi for the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference, and she has also chosen to wear jersey number 10 with the team -- the same as the anime character's number in the series.

The outside spiker said she is drawing inspiration from Sakuragi and was happy that the public reception of it was "positive."

READ: PVL: Bell answers the call as Chery Tiggo sweeps Farm Fresh

READ: PVL: Chery Tiggo cruises past Nxled for 2nd win

"Pi-neg ko din talaga kasi actually, start palang nung nag-start ako sa Chery [Tiggo], kasi sakto nag-number 10 ako diba? Plano ko na rin mag-red hair pero diba di pa ako nag-semi kalbo last conference? Sabi ko, 'hindi ito na muna. Sabi ko sa next nalang,'" Galang said after the Crossovers swept Nxled, 25-16, 25-20, 25-23, on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

"Sakuragi yun diba? Kilala rin naman 'yun at kabataan ko 'yun. So, nakakatuwa din na kita ko 'yung positive din yung tingin nila and di naman siya insult so, okay naman," she went on.

Galang said she patterns her story to Hanamichi's.

"Si Hanamichi kasi, palaban din kasi siya di ba? Tsaka hindi naman… Nag-start din siya nang wala, parang paangat. Hanggang sa na-build niya 'yung confidence niya. Na-build, parang pinagkatiwalaan din siya ng mga kasama niya. So, parang [naisip] ko lang din, ganun din naman ako as a player eh."

The former De La Salle University standout said that she has other plans with her hair.

"Totoong meron akong ibang gusto kaya lang parang hair tattoo siya, iba-iba. Semi-kalbo pero may iba iba, parang may flame ganon, marami akong gustong i-try talaga pero [iniisip] ko pa kung kelan and kung mama-match ba, tsaka ayoko rin masyado nang baka naman kasi syempre, mas focus ko yung laro eh."

RELATED VIDEO: