After nearly two years, Jia De Guzman is ready to make her much-anticipated return to Creamline.
Speaking at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, De Guzman confirmed that while her comeback to the Cool Smashers is already in the works, her full attention remains with Alas Pilipinas — fresh off a historic silver-medal finish in the 2025 AVC Women’s Nations Cup.
There, she also clinched her second consecutive Best Setter award.
“Of course, I’m going back to Creamline, but I went to a team also that knows that I have responsibilities also for the flag,” said the eight-time Premier Volleyball League Best Setter.
In 2023, De Guzman took her talents overseas and signed with the Denso Airybees in Japan’s SV.League.
She spent two seasons with the club and helped lead them to a V.Cup championship.
The 30-year-old last suited up for Creamline during the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference, where the Cool Smashers fell short in the finals against Japanese guest team Kurashiki Ablaze.
De Guzman expressed her gratitude to the Creamline management for supporting her decision to prioritize national team duties.
“So 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,” she said.
Alas Women are slated to compete in the VTV Cup in Vietnam later this month, followed by the Southeast Asian V.League in July, all leading up to the Southeast Asian Games in December.
De Guzman was one of the team’s leaders during that groundbreaking Nations Cup campaign, which marked the Philippines’ first finals appearance on the Asian stage in 64 years.
#WATCH: Jia De Guzman, set to return to Creamline later this year, reminds Alas Pilipinas Women to stay grounded amid their recent rise 🏐🇵🇭
🎥 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#Sambansa pic.twitter.com/i10E2dMIuq
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) June 17, 2025
