FILE–Alas Pilipinas setter Jia de Guzman is headed for another stint in Japan with Denso Airybees. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Jia De Guzman is set to return to Japan with the Denso Airybees after a fruitful stint with Alas Pilipinas.
PVL president and Alas Pilipinas chairman Ricky Palou on Thursday confirmed that the star setter is flying to Japan after back-to-back bronze medal finishes in the SEA V League.
“Her contract in Japan has been renewed so I think she’ll go back there I think today or tomorrow she’s leaving for Japan,” said Palou.
READ: Jia De Guzman is ace up Alas Pilipinas sleeve
De Guzman returned to the country last May and embraced the captain role for Alas, which she led to a bronze medal finish in the AVC Challenge Cup.
The AVC Challenge Cup Best Setter and the nationals also competed against Vietnam in the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup and had friendlies in South Korea and Japan.
The eight-time PVL Best Setter won an individual award in the first leg of SEA VLeague in the Philippines’ return to the podium in two legs held in Vietnam and Thailand.
READ: AVC Cup: Jia De Guzman’s leadership brings Alas Pilipinas together
Palou, also the PNVF vice president, said De Guzman is committed to return to Alas for the national team calendar.
“In the meantime, the team will be practicing pero as far as I know, after May, babalik na siya dito for the national team. When the national team calendar comes into play she’ll be back in the Philippines for the Alas team,” he said.
De Guzman was listed in the Denso’s roster for the 2024-25 season, marking her second year in Japan.
She and the AiryBees finished the V.League with a 12-10 record. De Guzman also won a championship in the V Cup.
De Guzman will be competing with the AiryBees in the brand-new SV.League — the top-tier Japanese volleyball competition.
Aside from De Guzman, Jaja Santiago will continue to play in Japan with JT Marvelous. Marck Espejo also signed with Kubota Spears Osaka in the V.League.