JIA de Guzman is all set for a long-awaited comeback to the Creamline Cool Smashers.
The eight-time PVL best setter ended months ofspeculation on her future with her club team of over half a decade in the Philippines.
"Of course, I'm going back to Creamline," de Guzman said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday.
READ Jia parts ways with Japan SV.League club ahead of Alas duties
Now a back-to-back top playmaker in the AVC Nations Cup, de Guzman has yet to give a timetable for her return as she prioritizes her captaincy duties for flag and country with Alas Pilipinas.
“I went to a team also that knows that I have responsibilities also for the flag,” de Guzman said.
“Right now, I’m very grateful because they’re allowing me to focus entirely on Alas Pilipinas because we know that we have a responsibility to the country also so I’m very grateful sa Creamline.”
The 30-year-old veteran setter last played in the PVL back in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference where the Cool Smashers lost the knockout title game to Japanese guest team Kurashiki Ablaze.
It was in Japan where de Guzman would take her talents next where she’d play a decorated two-year stint with Denso Airybees in the Japan SV.League.
She won gold in the 2023–24 Japan V.League Division 1 Women V.Cup before capping her first overseas stint with silver in the 72nd Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament.
De Guzman was part of Creamline’s first seven PVL championship runs before heading to Japan.
This time, as the Cool Smashers came off a rare title loss to Petro Gazz in All-Filipino play, de Guzman hopes to restore lost glory for Philippine volleyball’s winningest club once she dons the iconic pink-and-blue later this year.
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