Jia De Guzman is the target as Chinese Taipei, featuring key players from KingWhale Taipei, meets Alas Pilipinas in the AVC Nations Cup semifinals.
A semifinal berth in the 2025 AVC Women’s Nations Cup brings a familiar face-to-face clash as Chinese Taipei braces for a reunion with Jia De Guzman and Alas Pilipinas on Friday.
Chinese Taipei head coach Teng Yen-Min and setter Liao Yi-Jen—who both suited up for KingWhale Taipei in the 2022 PVL Invitational Conference—know firsthand what the Philippines’ veteran playmaker is capable of.
Back then, KingWhale fell to De Guzman’s Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL Finals, despite Yi-Jen earning Best Setter honors in the tournament.
Almost three years later, they’ll be on opposite sides again—this time with a spot in the AVC final at stake.
“This year’s Team Philippines, I think all combinations are very fast, many change. So we’re more focused, and [focused] on teamwork because [both] teams have same style,” said coach Yen-Min, noting the quick tempo and dynamic plays that define both squads.
The clash between two cerebral setters is also something she is looking forward to.
“Setter [looking forward to face]. The Philippine setter played in Japan. But Team Taipei setter [did the] same. So it’s exciting [to see] the setter’s fight,” Yen-Min added.
De Guzman, now captain of Alas Pilipinas, spent the past two seasons with the Denso Airybees in Japan’s top division, while Yi-Jen also gained international experience playing for Kanoa Laulea’s Fukuoka in Japan’s second tier.
“She’s very smart,” Yi-Jen said of De Guzman. “Tomorrow, we’ll watch out for her.”
Alas Pilipinas, seeking to surpass last year’s bronze finish, carry the hopes of a nation and the leadership of a playmaker their opponents know all too well.
(With reports from Mei-Lin Lozada)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]