Jia De Guzman earns another international import stint in Japan

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Alas Pilipinas team captain Jia Morado-De Guzman is set for another stint overseas after receiving another contract to play in Japan confirmed on August 15, 2024.

De Guzman, who filled the role as an Asian import for the Denso Airybees last SV.League in Japan, will be making her second comeback in the upcoming season announced by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF).

According to Ricky Palou, the current PNVF national team chairman, De Guzman will be missing the rest of the national team’s international campaign as she will return to the Land of the Rising Sun this week.

“In the meantime, the team will be practicing, but as far as I know, after May, babalik na siya dito for the national team. When the national team calendar comes into play, she’ll be back in the Philippines for the Alas team,” Palou said.

Since arriving in the Philippines after her first international import campaign in Japan, De Guzman has rendered her services full-time as Alas’ main orchestrator and team captain.

De Guzman led the mix of young talent and veteran gunners to a first-ever podium finish during the AVC Cup, the best outing that the PHL women’s national team had since joining the prestigious volleyball tournament.

Not only did De Guzman lead the team to a bronze medal finish but she also bagged the Best Setter of the tournament award and replicated the exact feat during the Southeast V-League.

The veteran setter flaunted her playmaking skills in the first leg of the SEA V-League, bagging the Best Setter award alongside Thea Gagate who also earned individual distinction as the Best Middle Blocker of the tournament.

With De Guzman officially out for Alas, Julia Coronel is the only setter left in the national team program and must bring her A-game in the next international outings of the squad.