ONE of Philippine volleyball’s most decorated spiker-setter duos will soon share the court again.
Alyssa Valdez and Jia de Guzman are set to don hot pink together at Creamline later this year once the ongoing national team window ends in September.
READ: Jia de Guzman confirms she's returning to play for Creamline
Together, they shared seven championships — five as Cool Smashers (2018 Reinforced, 2018 Open, 2019 Open, 2022 Open, 2022 Invitational) and two as Ateneo Lady Eagles (UAAP Seasons 76 and 77).
For two years, they were temporarily set apart as de Guzman took her act to the Japan SV.League with Denso Airybees.
Now that the old gang’s back together as ‘JiaLy’ is joined by fellow champion Ateneo stars Bea de Leon, Denden Lazaro-Revilla and Ella de Jesus, Valdez described such a mini-Lady Eagles reunion as one that will take her back to her humble beginnings in Katipunan.
“That fact [na babalik si Jia], alam mo honestly, nakakabata. Nakaka-feel bata, hindi nakakabata pala,” Valdez said.
“Nakaka-feel bata pa rin kami just because we’ve always been together since then. Who would have thought that we're gonna be together again after how many years, ‘di ba?
“Reminiscing all those good and bad memories together, it's been tough.”
More than anything, the eight-time PVL best setter’s oncoming Creamline comeback will be nothing short of inspirational for the team’s immediate future.
“I think we always get to answer the reason why we're playing this sport. It's because of the team, the players we're with, and more reason to really actually play better and well in the next coming seasons,” de Guzman said.
‘Jia is Jia’
In their Ateneo days, Valdez was de Guzman’s senior and ‘ate’ in the team.
That same dynamic carried onto the pros in the midst of the Cool Smashers’ golden PVL reign in the last few years.
Fast forward to today, Jia now armed with valuable Japan and national team captaincy experience and Alyssa rediscovering her vintage form, the Creamline captain knows that their home will be in great hands when de Guzman sports their winning pink hue again.
“Even before Jia came to Japan, we all know Jia. Jia is Jia. With all the experiences she's getting on and off the court, I bet more than ever, she's gonna be one of the ates already of the team. Hindi pala, she's gonna be one of the ates in the team,” said Valdez.
“I’m just really glad I've witnessed siguro all these ups, wala atang down si Jia eh, all these ups in her career.
“Really, we're all gonna be here. I'm always gonna be here supporting her. Kung anuman ang tahakin niya, hopefully, and will always be, I think Philippines and Creamline will always be her team.”
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