HER playmaking skills were always second to none, but above all for a hastily-formed Alas Pilipinas side, it’s Jia de Guzman’s tireless leadership that has blazed the nationals’ trail of history in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women.
Over a year since her last tour of duty for flag and country in the 2023 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia, de Guzman first had to finish off a triumphant overseas debut in Japan before making her much-anticipated return to Philippine volleyball.
And without a doubt, her first matches back on home soil have been nothing short of spectacular.
Made your country proud
The onetime Creamline and Ateneo de Manila University star took full advantage of her weapons - whether that be wingers Sisi Rondina and Eya Laure, newly-converted utility spiker Angel Canino, or middle blockers Thea Gagate and Fifi Sharma.
And following her lead, the Philippines swept four matches in pool play and reached its first-ever semifinals of an AVC-sanctioned tournament in the national volleyball federation’s 63-year history.
READ: As Alas battles for bronze, de Brito hopes to stay put in PH
While they fell short against taller, more experienced Kazakhstan in the Final Four, a 16th international women's volleyball podium finish still lies within reach.
Whatever the result after the battle for bronze at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, though, de Guzman exclaimed that she’s already left in awe by young Alas' grit and heart. This, even though it's just been a matter of weeks since they got together.
“Sobrang proud ko talaga sa team. Wala akong ibang words for it kasi ramdam ko na lumalaban kahit dehado kami, kahit naghahabol kami, kahit mabilis kaming napupuntusan ng Kazakhstan. Feel ko pa rin na gustong-gusto lumaban ng bawat isa sa amin whether inside the court or sa bench namin,” she said.
“We have a good mix of young players and veterans na sobrang naba-balance ang isa’t-isa. It’s a good blend of fire, energy, and composure (and) the bench is pretty deep. Kahit sino sa amin, ready pumasok, ready mag-deliver. It’s good for us kasi at least we’re a bit more unpredictable para sa mga kalaban."
Jia is gold standard of leadership
Taking over the captaincy for a national team comprised of a diverse mix of Premier Volleyball League (PVL) mainstays and UAAP hotshots—most of whom she never teamed up with or even played against in the past— on such short notice is a tall order in itself.
But with valuable experience coupled with innate elite playmaking, de Guzman knew just how to rally Alas on. From team trainings to in-game timeouts, the skipper kept reiterating one core message: just keep playing.
Upstart Alas may not have been favored to win it all from the get-go, but de Guzman was nonetheless adamant there’s nothing to lose for a team that gives its all to win.
“Just keep playing. Kahit anong mangyari, just keep playing. Manalo, matalo, may matutunan ka sa laro, may matututunan ka sa kalaban mo. Kazakhstan was on our level before, they just kept playing. Vietnam was on our level before, they just kept playing,” she said
“So kami, ‘yun din ‘yung gagawin namin. Inaasahan namin na tuloy-tuloy pa rin ‘yung suporta para makalaro lang kami nang dire-diretso at maka-improve pa kami as a team.”
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