Jia De Guzman cherished the electric MOA atmosphere after steering the Creamline Cool Smashers past the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Playing in front of 12,600 spectators at the Mall of Asia Arena brought back familiar emotions for Jia De Guzman, who savored the atmosphere as Creamline nabbed its first win in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
De Guzman orchestrated the Cool Smashers’ four-set victory over the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, 27-25, 17-25, 25-21, 25-15, with 20 excellent sets on Tuesday night, Feb. 10.
Beyond the scoreboard, the match carried extra meaning for the Alas Women team captain, who last played at the Pasay venue during the 2023 Invitational Conference.
“Ang saya,” De Guzman said during the post-game press conference. “The feeling was very surreal walking into the arena. Marinig ‘yung cheers for both sides, every point nakakagana maglaro, nakakawala ng pagod.”
Still plenty of work to come
While pleased with the result, De Guzman stressed that Creamline’s victory was only a small step in a long conference, especially for a team still finding its rhythm after welcoming back several key pieces.
“Very early pa in the season,” she admitted. “How we performed in the first game doesn’t really say how we’ll perform for the rest. We’re just trying to be present—sa training, sa bawat game, sa bawat kalaban.”
Jia De Guzman sets the ball during Creamline's PVL All-Filipino victory over Choco Mucho. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
For now, the work continues for the Cool Smashers, who sit with a 1-1 record, as they look to reclaim the All-Filipino crown.
That’s why De Guzman pointed to communication as Creamline’s biggest area for growth moving forward.
“Individually, we’re very skilled,” she explained. “It’s how we put that together para maging cohesive. Alam namin na doon kami nahirapan in the first game [na] lumabas ‘yung lapses sa communication.”
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The Cool Smashers will have a week to prepare for their next game as they face the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the FilOil Centre in San Juan.
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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.