Two national team captains and Best Setters, the Jia de Guzman-Micah Christenson encounter adds a nice cap to the VNL's 2024 Manila stop.
We all love Jia de Guzman in her fangirl era.
As a fan, the Alas Pilipinas captain is making the most of the 2024 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Manila Leg, especially as the Philippine national team had the chance to meet the Team USA squad seeing action here.
Of course, Jia shared some snaps with USA men’s volleyball team, including captain Micah Christenson, on her Instagram account.
Teammates Fifi Sharma and Vanie Gandler, alongside Alas Pilipinas Men’s Joshua Retamar and Bryan Baguna were also present in a special encounter.
“Some members of the Alas Pilipinas NT got the chance to interact with members of the USA Men’s National Team! Despite the accolades and being huge inspirations to volleyball players all around the world, these guys are so nice, down-to-earth, and funny 😅,” Morado said in the post.
The 2024 AVC Women’s Challenge Cup Best Setter got the chance to take a picture with the two-time VNL Best setter in Christenson, as both national team captains in one picture is truly a sight to behold.
[Photo C: Instagram | @juliacmorado]
Jia-mazing also had opportunities to meet opposite hitter T.J. DeFalco, middle blocker Taylor Averill, and libero Erik Shoji.
[Photo C: Instagram | @juliacmorado]
[Photo C: Instagram | @juliacmorado]
[Photo C: Instagram | @juliacmorado]
“More than improving our skills on the court, it’s conversations like these that help us get to know the game deeper,” the former Creamline Cool Smasher champion setter added.
Team USA are currently 2-1 in the Philippine Leg of the VNL 2024, most recently beating Germany in four sets to remain in the hunt for a quarterfinals slot in the 2024 VNL Nations League.
[ALSO READ: VNL: Matt Anderson, USA keep Final Eight hopes alive with crucial win over Germany]
De Guzman and Alas Pilipinas, on the other hand, are preparing in the upcoming 2024 FIVB Volleyball Women's Challenger Cup set on July 4 to 7 in Manila.
With the addition of former teammate Jema Galanza and National U’s Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon in the roster, Morado is grateful for the newest inclusions in the squad.
"We’re grateful na reinforce pa kami lalo kasi we had a very good lineup nung AVC [Challenge Cup], and we’re welcoming every help that we can get,” de Guzman told reporters after Alas Pilipinas’ meet and greet at the Mall of Asia Arena during the Manila leg of the Volleyball Nations League.
[ALSO READ: Jia de Guzman grateful for addition of Jema Galanza, Bella Belen, and Alyssa Solomon to Alas Pilipinas]
NEXT: 'Total team effort siya': Jia De Guzman commends Alas Pilipinas teammates stepping up as leaders, looks back on historic AVC Challenge Cup journey]