Jia De Guzman is back in the Philippines following her stint with Denso in Japan’s V.League, ready to resume her duties as captain of Alas Pilipinas.
The veteran setter expressed her excitement to train with the new generation of national team players, including a reunion with Angel Canino and setting for the first time for UAAP three-time MVP Bella Belen and Rookie of the Year Shaina Nitura.
Proving her eagerness, the eight-time Premier Volleyball League Best Setter revealed she’ll be returning to training on Thursday — earlier than expected.
Head coach Jorge de Brito initially anticipated De Guzman to report in late May.
“I’m really excited kasi actually I just got back nung May 8, and I was expected to come back training mga May 20, 26 pa? 26. Kaso I wanna go to training na,” shared De Guzman on Wednesday, shortly before National University clinched the UAAP title over De La Salle University.
“So bukas pupunta na ‘ko kasi I saw nga na marami nang bagong dumating, sina Shaina and everyone, and hopefully after this Finals, kung kailan man ‘to matatapos, madagdagan pa kami so yeah. Marami kaming kailangang paghandaan talaga this season,” added the multi-time PVL Best Setter.
De Guzman is particularly looking forward to working with Nitura, who made an explosive debut in the UAAP this year.
The Adamson University super rookie broke the single-game scoring record with 38 points — surpassing the 35-point mark previously held by De Guzman’s long-time teammate Alyssa Valdez and UST’s Sisi Rondina.
Nitura didn’t stop there.
She went on to break the all-time single-season scoring record across all UAAP divisions, tallying 371 points in the 14-game elimination round. The feat eclipsed the 344 points set by UST’s Mark Alfafara in Season 76.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“I’m really excited. Kasi I’ve seen how she plays for Adamson, she’s also team captain for her team so I’m really curious how she will play in the system of Alas,” said De Guzman, who has long been recognized as a leader in every team she’s played for.
“Saka grabe she’s very strong, physically, high din ‘yung IQ niya sa paglalaro, so I’m sure na magaganda rin ‘yung conversations namin ‘pag magkasama na rin kami.”
The Alas Pilipinas Women’s team has a jam-packed schedule ahead, beginning with the AVC Challenge Cup — now called the AVC Nations Cup — on June 7. That will be followed by the Southeast Asia V.League, and later, the Southeast Asian Games in December.
Expectations are high for the national team after a breakout year in 2024, when they clinched several bronze medals, including a historic third-place finish at the AVC Challenge Cup — the country’s first-ever podium finish in a continental tournament.
“Siyempre, there’s a little bit… There’s some pressure this year kasi we got bronze medals last year pero we’re starting from zero again kasi naghihiwa-hiwalay kami and we need more time to prepare,” admitted De Guzman, balancing realistic expectations with quiet confidence.
“Right now we’re 12, 13 na nagti-train together and hopefully madagdagan. ‘Yun lang. Parang we’re reminding all the girls na take it day by day, ‘yung pag-training namin, just focus on coach’s system talaga. And hopefully we get more wins and medals sana this year.”
#WATCH: Jia De Guzman is set to return to Alas Pilipinas 🇵🇭
Excited to team up with Shaina Nitura for the first time and reunite with familiar faces Angel Canino and Bella Belen 🏐
📹 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 #Sambansa pic.twitter.com/ausWboYrW6
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 14, 2025
