Creamline will still be without Jia De Guzman in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference, but coach Sherwin Meneses and Alyssa Valdez believe the team's setter depth will keep them competitive.
It's official.
The Creamline Cool Smashers will still be without their ace setter Jia De Guzman in the upcoming PVL Reinforced Conference, the team confirmed on Thursday, October 2.
Head coach Sherwin Meneses acknowledged that while De Guzman’s absence will be felt, the team remains confident in its depth at the setter position.
“Nandun naman ‘yung dalawang backup namin na si Rhea [Dimaculangan] and [Mafe] Galanza. Ready naman sila palagi, especially nandyan naman si Kyle [Negrito],” Meneses told reporters during the press conference.
“‘Yung experience niya [Kyle] sa mga previous conference, talagang malaki ‘yung improvement niya. Almost the same naman, 'yung rotation wala namang problema.”
[ALSO READ: Jia De Guzman set for Creamline return even as focus stays with Alas Pilipinas]
Still, Meneses admitted that Creamline will miss the veteran presence of their court general.
“Hindi mawawala yun. Siyempre iba si Jia, talaga tested na sa mga game. So, 'yung panghihinayang, syempre laging nandyan 'yan. Big factor talaga kung makalaro sa amin si Jia, pero siguro hindi pa ngayon. Siguro by next year,” he added.
De Guzman last suited for the Cool Smashers during the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference. She has since played in the Japan SV.League for the Denso Airybees.
With her contract in Japan officially over after two seasons, Creamline fans have been awaiting her official return to the squad.
Team captain Alyssa Valdez echoed the decision, noting that it was made in coordination with management to allow De Guzman more time off after her Alas Pilipinas duties.
“I think the management has decided also na she has to sit the conference out. So, she’s not playing this conference,” Valdez confirmed.
[ALSO READ: Jia de Guzman hopeful for PH volleyball’s future with 2029 FIVB World Championship hosting]
The 30-year-old setter was with the Cool Smashers during their training camp in Bangkok, Thailand prior to the Reinforced Conference.
The Cool Smashers finished with back-to-back bronze medals in the PVL on Tour and the Invitational Conference. In this upcoming tournament, Creamline would have to defend their Reinforced title without Conference and Finals MVP Bernadeth Pons, who is still fulfilling beach volleyball duties for Alas Pilipinas.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.