Jia De Guzman is ace up Alas Pilipinas sleeve

Alas Pilipinas’ Jia De Guzman (11) at the AVC Challenge Cup 2024.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Jia De Guzman is thankful that the crowd keeps coming out to support Alas Pilipinas in the AVC Challenge Cup.

She’s happy for the opportunity to play for the country and with some of the best young standouts today.

The national squad is happy it has Jia de Guzman.

SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas at the AVC Challenge Cup 2024

“Ate Jia has been a huge factor. [S]he knows what to do inside the court. We’re very grateful to have her as our setter because even we only had a very short preparation, but still, she does her best to communicate and connect to each one of us,” Thea Gagate, the La Salle standout who has emerged as the national team’s top middle blocker, said.

De Guzman has been the key for Alas Pilipinas in the tournament and her astute playmaking has the Philippines at 2-0 at press time after a 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-18 win over India before 3,800 spectators Friday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum

The unassuming setter has the team playing cohesively so far and she feels rejuvenated by the presence of young stars like Gagate, Angel Canino and Eya Laure.

READ: AVC Cup: Alas Pilipinas claims historic semis spot, sweeps Iran

“They bring a different kind of power, different kind of fire and energy inside the court that even us [veterans] get swept into it,” said De Guzman, one of the more experienced players in the team alongside Sisi Rondina and Dawn Macandili-Catindig.

“It’s really a good mix of fire, energy and composure inside the game.”

De Guzman had a world-class volleyball experience in Japan, playing for Denso Airybees in the V.League and other tournaments.

But the overwhelming support of the country has brought inspiration to a higher level.

“It feels great. No matter how long I’ve been out of the country, it’s always different when you play at home [in front of the] home crowd.”

De Guzman, who played in the Japanese Division 1 league and won a title in the V.Cup, said the team is working to apply in-game adjustments as needed.

“We’re going up against teams [that] we’ve only seen … in videos,“ she said. “It’s different when you’re just viewing [tapes] from when you play them on the court because the other teams are also adjusting based on how we’re playing. So thankfully, our team has adjusted quickly.”