Jia de Guzman believes the setter role becomes even more crucial in the Premier Volleyball League’s all-to-play format, where teams must remain adaptable amid constant changes in lineups and matchups.
With teams uncertain about which players they will face and who will share the court with them, the eight-time PVL Best Setter stressed the importance of making in-game adjustments while ensuring that the team’s system remains intact regardless of personnel.
“I think in this tournament kasi you don’t know kasi kung — number one, kung sino ‘yung mga kasama mo sa court. And number two, kung sino ‘yung mga kalaban mo on the other side of the court,” said De Guzman.
De Guzman, who returned to Creamline this conference following her duties with Alas Pilipinas, credited the coaching staff for keeping the team’s system steady no matter which players are on the floor.
That consistency has allowed the Cool Smashers to maintain their identity even as rotations change, enabling them to focus on countering their opponents’ adjustments.
(C) PVL Images
“So, preparation-wise, may game plan, but we also have to be flexible na kung ano ‘yung mangyayari sa loob ng court,” said De Guzman, who tallied 17 excellent sets in Creamline’s victory over ZUS Coffee, 25-19, 16-25, 26-24, 25-17, on Saturday night.
“Dapat matuto kaming mag-respond with in-game adjustments, and our coaches have been doing very well with that na kahit sinong ipasok sa amin sa loob, rock solid ‘yung system namin and anyone can perform at any time,” the multiple-time Best Setter added.
“Yung kailangan naman naming problemahin is kung ano yung gagawin nung kabila and paano kami magre-respond to that. So ‘yun ‘yung challenge every game we go into, every set na we go into, na may gagawin ‘yung kabila paano naman kami kikilos.”
So far, Creamline’s adaptability has paid off. The defending champions have opened their 2026 All-Filipino Conference Siklab series campaign with three straight victories to remain unbeaten alongside Nxled.
The Cool Smashers have dropped just two sets in their first three games, sweeping Akari before earning four-set victories over Galeries Tower and the Thunderbelles.
De Guzman said she likes what she has seen from Creamline early in the tournament, as the Cool Smashers continue to embrace the challenge of adjusting to different lineups and finding ways to make their system work.
“As a setter na lang, ‘yung sagot ko na ako… Kung sino man ‘yung piliin nila coach na isama sa amin, trabaho namin na paganahin sila or to find a way to pull the strings and make everyone work under the same system,” said De Guzman.
“It’s always been like that naman for me and Kyle, and also Donna, na we don’t choose who plays with us, but it is our job na to play with who is given to us.”
