Jia De Guzman hailed PVL Finals MVP after leading Creamline to another crown

Jia De Guzman hailed the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals MVP. –LANCE AGCAOILI/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Jia De Guzman emerged as the Finals MVP for Creamline in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

De Guzman earned her fourth Finals MVP award after leading the Cool Smashers to their second straight All-Filipino title and sixth overall championship in the league.

The 27-year-old setter dished out 18 excellent sets as Creamline outlasted the hard-fighting Petro Gazz in a do-or-die Finals Game 3, 20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-15.

De Guzman also claimed her eighth Best Setter award among the four Cool Smashers, who bannered the PVL Premier Team led by three-time Conference MVP Tots Carlos.

It was a fulfilling conference for the setter, who missed three-time MVP Alyssa Valdez in the whole tournament for the first time due to a right knee injury.

“It’s so overwhelming for us. Because the journey wasn’t easy to get this championship. We saw that the team poured in the hard work,” said De Guzman in Filipino. “We only got like a day in between to prepare for the next games, so the focus and recovery of our team were commendable.

“And when we got to train for three hours, as in everyone, are present and ready to train for three hours. So we have to give it to the team also and the coaching staff for helping us get this championship,” she added.

De Guzman was part of Creamline’s six championships, including four All-Filipino titles.

The decorated playmaker will also try her luck in the Korean V-League, which will draft Asian imports next month.

But for now, De Guzman is focused on helping the Philippine women’s volleyball team as she, Valdez, Carlos, Michele Gumabao, Jema Galanza, Celine Domingo, and Kyla Atienza as well as coach Sherwin Meneses joining coach Jorge Souza de Brito’s staff for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in May,