By Rachel Gonzales

 

Veteran setter Jia De Guzman is once again at the center of the country’s Southeast Asian Games campaign as she leads a young Alas Pilipinas squad that is determined to end a 20-year medal drought in the women’s volleyball event next week in Thailand.

Now entering her fourth SEA Games, De Guzman said she’s grown used to navigating challenges through the years, as she banks on the chemistry they built since competing last year in Asian and regional competitions amid the team’s limited preparation.

“I think every SEA Games I’ve joined has always come with its own challenges. We’re going up against teams that—like we always say—have had plenty of time to prepare, because everyone knows the SEA Games happen every two years,” De Guzman said. 

 

“But that doesn’t change the fact that the girls, the team, and the coaches work hard every single day to do what we can, no matter what the situation is. Whatever happens, we’ll give everything we can on the court.”

De Guzman, a two-time AVC Nations Cup Best Setter, said she relies on trust and communication to guide a roster filled with rising talents after her leadership has helped stabilize the program through two seasons of competitions across Asia, where the national team earned medals in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Nations Cup — including a finals appearance this year in Vietnam — and the SEA V.League.

“Ever since the Alas program started last year, the SEA Games have already been part of the timeline. It’s in the plan. And we just keep adding more long-term goals — including the 2029 World Championships coming up,” she said.

“So every tournament, every training camp, even every local training day we spend together is one step closer to becoming the team we want to be. Whatever level we reach, we want to give our absolute best in this tournament. The SEA Games is very important to the Philippines.”

“We’ve already gone up against some of the teams we’ll face in the SEA Games, so we have confidence from that. And we also have a strong familiarity with each other because we’ve been playing together since last year. The system is already in place.”

De Guzman leads Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Angel Canino,Shaina Nitura, Mars Alba , Eya Laure, Vanie Gandler, Alleiah Malaluan, Dell Palomata, Amie Provido, Maddie Madayag, Dawn Catindig, and Justine Jazareno.

Alas faces defending champion Thailand on December 11 before facing Singapore on December 12 in Pool A.

“Growing up, I had a very clear vision of the kind of leader I wanted to be. For me, being captain is more of a formality. We all recognize that everyone has their own roles and responsibilities, and I think that’s one of the reasons why Alas became such a good team,” De Guzman said.