Volleyball player Jia de Guzman and her husband Miguel in Japan. –JIA DE GUZMAN INSTAGRAM
MANILA, Philippines — Volleyball star Jia De Guzman and her husband Miguel have continued to show that love knows no distance.
While Jia is in Japan to showcase her talent with the Denso AiryBees in the SV.League, her husband Miguel always makes her feel at home and still close to her loved ones.
When De Guzman becamse the first setter to win the prestigious Miss Volleyball award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association Miguel proudly represented his wife on the Awards night at Manila Hotel and saw her get the recognition alongside the past and current Olympians and the brightest athletes of the country.
READ: Jia De Guzman is ace up Alas Pilipinas sleeve
Through her recorded speech, the eight-time PVL Best Setter expressed her gratitude to her husband for being her strength and
“I’d also like to thank my husband Miguel for being my anchor and making me strong in ways I never thought possible. Also to our families back home for their unwavering love and support all these years,” said De Guzman all the way from Japan.
Miguel, who’s been married to the volleyball star since 2021, said he’s always ready to support Jia no matter what, rallying behind her with their families in every journey, whether it’s in Japan or for Alas Pilipinas.
Miguel de Guzman, husband of volleyball player Jia de Guzman, receiving the award for Miss Volleyball on behalf of his wife. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“It’s very touching to know that she appreciates the support I give her,” De Guzman told Inquirer Sports. “It’s not easy for us as a family, knowing she’s in Japan and then back here for national team duties. We just want her to know that we’re all behind her in this journey. Hopefully, she continues so she can bring even more honor to the country.”
A long-distance relationship isn’t easy for any couple but despite the busy season, Miguel makes sure that Jia always feels closer to home through constant communication or even flying to Japan to stay by her side when he’s able.
READ: ‘Ms. Volleyball’ honor ‘dream come true’ for Jia de Guzman
“Right now, it’s tough because most of her games are in Japan, so we barely get time together,” said the husband of the Alas star. “But we make sure to talk all the time—whether through text, video calls, or when I visit her in Japan.”
“As much as possible, we also make sure she stays connected with everyone—her siblings, my cousins, our parents—so she gets different stories and sources of inspiration. She even keeps in touch with her former teammates, which helps a lot.”
Miguel wishes Jia a healthy career and achieve her goal for Alas Pilipinas to end the 20-year medal drought in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
“Of course, we want her to have a healthy career and stay in top shape on the court,” said Miguel. “But at the same time, 2025 is a very important year for volleyball. It’s a SEA Games year, so hopefully, we can finally bring home a medal after so many years.”
“I’ve known her since her college days, and it’s amazing how she’s still doing what she loves—playing volleyball.
“Now, she also gets to share the court with her Alas Pilipinas teammates like Angel (Canino), Eya (Laure), and even Arah (Panique), the youngest on the team. It’s an exciting time for her, especially as a setter, because she loves making her teammates shine. Seeing the younger generation step up means a lot to her,” he added.