STILL no Jia de Guzman for Creamline - for now, at least.
The Alas Pilipinas captain will not suit up for the Cool Smashers in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference, with head coach Sherwin Meneses saying it was a ‘management decision’ not to field the eight-time best setter just yet.
Creamline reportedly has a plan set for de Guzman to ‘rest’ for the remainder of the year before fully returning to action in 2026.
“Rest muna si Jia this year. Sa usapan nga with management, totally hindi siya maglalaro this conference,” Meneses told SPIN.ph.
The Alas skipper has the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand as her immediate priority for the rest of the year. There, she looks to lead the Nationals to their first women’s volleyball medal in 20 years.
Creamline's current setters
Instead, veteran playmaker Rhea Dimaculangan-Villarete will play out the remaining months of her Cool Smashers contract until the end of 2025.
Set to still lead the way for the redemption-seeking 10-time champions is four-time best setter Kyle Negrito, who orchestrated last year’s Grand Slam.
With the decision to rule de Guzman out deemed 'final,' Meneses said Creamline won't put her in the final 20-woman lineup even as a contingency measure with the likes of Mafe Galanza and libero-slash-setter Aleiah Torres in the squad.
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