Philippine volleyball icon Alyssa Valdez is thrilled with Jia De Guzman’s return to Creamline

Philippine volleyball star Jia De Guzman will make her long-awaited return to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) and suit up once again for her former team, the Creamline Cool Smashers, after spending nearly two years playing for the Denso Airybees in the Japan Volleyball League (JVL).

De Guzman confirmed her return to Creamline during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, June 17. However, she emphasized that despite her PVL comeback, her main focus remains on leading Alas Pilipinas.

“Of course, I’m going back to Creamline, but I went to a team that also knows I have responsibilities for the flag. It’s really national team period. Klaro naman po ‘yung usapan namin ng Rebisco management—that while the Alas players are needed by the national team, our focus is here,” De Guzman stated.

Philippine volleyball icon and Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez is elated by De Guzman’s return to the PVL and to the Cool Smashers in particular, revealing that she will add more experience and talent to the squad.

“Very much excited. Nakaka-feel bata, nakaka-feel na bata pa din kami just because we have always been together since then. And who would have thought that we are gonna be together again after how many years, ‘di ba? So, reminiscing all those good and bad memories together, it’s been tough. But definitely, I think we always get the answer, the reason we are playing this game. It’s because of the team, the players we are with and more reason to actually play better and well in the next tournaments,” Valdez said to the media on the sidelines of an event.

PVL | WATCH:

PERFECT PAIR.

Alyssa Valdez and Jia de Guzman are back together like they never left as the Creamline Cool Smashers enjoy the photobooth at the Rebisco-Allianz PNB Life partnership event here at Valle Verde Country Club!#PVL2025 pic.twitter.com/zvxI3LLrU4

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) June 19, 2025

“Even before Jia’s coming—going to Japan and joining Alas—we know Jia is Jia. With all the experiences she is getting on and off the court, I think more than ever, she is going to be one of the ates in the team. I’m just really glad I have witnessed all these ups—wala yatang downs si Jia eh—all these ups in her career. And really, we are all going to be here. I’m always going to be here, always supporting her,” she added.

The 31-year-old also added that she is relishing reuniting on the court with fellow Ateneo teammate Bea De Leon in the upcoming PVL conference.

“Nakaka-feel bata. Nakaka-feel bata pa rin kami just because we have always been together since then—and who would have thought we would be together again all these years? Reminiscing all those good and bad memories together, it’s been tough. But I think we will always get to answer the reason why we are playing: it’s because of the team, the players we were with, and more reason to actually play better in the upcoming season,” Valdez concluded.

De Guzman’s return makes Creamline even more formidable, as she brings with her eight PVL Best Setter awards, four PVL Finals MVP honors, and seven PVL championships with the Cool Smashers.

Valdez, meanwhile, is widely considered the greatest volleyball player to come from the Philippines, having achieved legendary status, as evidenced by her immense popularity across various social media platforms.

She is one of the primary reasons volleyball in the Philippines has reached the lofty standards it enjoys today. The 31-year-old recently added another milestone to her illustrious career by being named one of the official ambassadors for the upcoming 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, which will be held in the Philippines.

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