JIA de Guzman has long enjoyed the luxury of orchestrating an offense loaded with MVP-caliber scorers at Creamline.
But when the opportunity arises, the league’s top playmakers can turn into scoring threats in an instant.
The Alas Pilipinas Women captain showcased that versatility on Tuesday, producing a rare double-double of 25 points and 10 excellent sets to power Creamline past ZUS Coffee, 22-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-18.
READ: Creamline brushes off flat start to repel ZUS Coffee in four sets
From the perspective of one of the country’s finest setters, scoring opportunities are not premeditated but instinctive, shaped by in-game situations rather than careful planning.
“It’s very situational, ‘yung mga attempts ko to score kasi hindi naman pwedeng i-plan ‘yun bago pa lang mag-serve ‘yung kalaban na kailangan ko mag-block, kailangan ko mag-score,” said de Guzman.
“It always depends on what the first ball is, kung ano ‘yung pwesto rin ng kalaban. What if the blockers are watching me? So it’s very situational talaga.”
More often than not, those decisions are made in a split second, whether to set up a teammate or take matters into her own hands.
“A lot of the times, it has to be at the last second and very calculated. Ready naman ‘yung teammates ko to support me kung hindi man gumana, ready kami mag-reset at bumalik sa sistema namin.”
De Guzman finished with six attack points, two blocks, and two aces in the victory.
'Adds another threat'
While setters are traditionally tasked to facilitate rather than score, the eight-time PVL Best Setter understands the added dimension scoring playmakers bring to a team’s offense.
“It adds another threat on the net kasi we have a lot of scoring setters who are very capable of being a threat whenever we’re in the front line,” she said.
“Nagiging unpredictable ‘yung offense ng team and that’s something that we’re consciously working on din kaming setters.”
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