IT is certain that a championship-caliber playmaker like Jia de Guzman will be at the forefront of the all-new Alas Pilipinas’ maiden campaign on home soil in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup.
But on the flip side of playing for flag and country, de Guzman finds herself at a crossroads on where the next chapter of her pro career will take her.
The eight-time Premier Volleyball League (PVL) best setter last suited up for eight-time champion Creamline in the 2023 Invitational Conference before embarking on her first-ever overseas club stint in the top flight of the Japan V.League with the Denso Airybees.
READ: PNVF chief says volleyball 'now the No. 1 sport in the country'
In the 2023-24 season, de Guzman and Denso finished fifth in the league before seizing championship gold in the Japan V.League Division 1 Cup, a post-season pocket tournament.
While nothing is set in stone yet for either a PVL comeback or a second Japan stint, de Guzman isn’t in a rush to decide where she’ll be taking her talents next.
“Right now kasi, I don’t have any plans yet after (the AVC Challenge Cup). Like I said during the press conference, the national team right now is my priority,” said de Guzman.
And on whether she’s also open to follow the trail of fellow Filipino import Jaja Santiago in her ongoing naturalization bid in Japan, de Guzman made it clear that, for the time being, playing for her own flag and country is of utmost priority.
“That's a question I cannot answer right now because when we are called to play in the national team, we really have to answer the call. That is part of FIVB regulations, so even other imports from other countries when we are called during the national team period, we really have to come back and serve the flag because that is our priority,” de Guzman said.
Jia filled with pride and gratitude
Reflecting on her recently concluded Japanese stint and her forthcoming Philippine national team return, de Guzman is grateful for the trust she continues to receive from her homeland and her new club team.
“I’m very thankful. Sobrang grateful ko rin kasi Denso was very welcoming and sobrang open sila to anyone coming into the team. With me and Rosa (Montibeller) na naninibago pa with the Japanese style of playing volleyball, sobrang willing sila to teach us every step of the way ever since I arrived there last August,” said de Guzman.
“One of the strengths of Japan volleyball is how simple they play, how simple but very efficient they play. But at the same time, very curious din sila sa kung ano ‘yung mga natututunan namin from our own countries and meron din namang mga iba na na-aapply din sa Denso system,” she added.
Amid the sport’s phenomenal rise in popularity in the Philippines, De Guzman hopes the national team's progress will soon follow.
“The rise of Philippine volleyball is not an easy task. It takes years as it did with other countries as well. We’d like to express our thanks also to UAAP, PVL, and PNVF, all the parties involved for making this possible because it’s easier said than done to improve as a country — in any sport.”
De Guzman added: “So this is one big step towards that and hopefully, we keep saying that we have this very short preparation for this AVC, that is something that is out of our control but moving forward, hopefully, all the parties involved will continue to cooperate so we can each achieve our goals better in the future.”
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