The Cool Smashers are smiling a little brighter these days.
After two full seasons of spreading her wings in Japan’s V.League and a historic campaign with the national team, Jia De Guzman is officially back in the fold—and her Creamline sisters couldn’t be happier.
The eight-time Premier Volleyball League Best Setter has returned to the team she’s called home for most of her decorated career, reuniting with longtime teammates Alyssa Valdez and Jema Galanza as she gears up for another chapter in her storied PVL journey.
“Well, very very excited and very happy and thankful. Jia’s been part of the team since day one and it’s always very special na we’re still gonna be so intact din as a team,” said Valdez, who’s been alongside De Guzman since their championship days at Ateneo.
De Guzman last played for Creamline in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference before making the bold move to sign with the Denso Airybees in Japan’s V.League. There, she tested her skills against some of the best setters and attackers in the world, earning invaluable experience and respect on the international stage.
But even as she thrived overseas, her heart never strayed too far from her Philippine volleyball roots. After parting ways with Denso earlier this year, she jumped straight into national team duty with Alas Pilipinas, helping the squad clinch a breakthrough silver-medal finish in the 2025 AVC Women’s Nations Cup. De Guzman, who orchestrated the team’s offense with poise and precision, also bagged her second consecutive Best Setter award in the continental tilt.
Her impact didn’t go unnoticed—not just by fans and analysts, but by the teammates who had missed her calming presence on the court and her steady leadership off it.
“Happy po and syempre excited din sa magiging journey niya sa Alas. But ‘yun nga, nami-miss na rin namin siya. Alam namin marami siyang mashe-share siya sa’min sa mga natutunan niya sa Japan and excited kami na makabalik siya sa amin,” said Galanza, who blossomed into a key Creamline weapon with De Guzman at the helm before her overseas stint.
The chemistry between the trio of De Guzman, Valdez, and Galanza has long been one of the cornerstones of Creamline’s dominance in the PVL, and fans can expect that connection to pick up right where it left off.
Though De Guzman has only recently resumed team activities, her return already signals a major boost to the squad as they set their sights on more titles. With De Guzman’s elite playmaking, Valdez’s veteran leadership, and Galanza’s all-around explosiveness, Creamline looks primed to make another serious run.
And it’s not just the three of them. Valdez also expressed joy over the thought of having a full Creamline family again, including fellow national team standouts Bernadeth Pons and Dij Rodriguez, who are still on duty with the beach volleyball and indoor squads, respectively.
“We’re actually praying, cheering for her for the whole Alas team, the men’s team, and all the national teams, beach volleyball also with Dij and Pons. Napaksayang malaman na kumpletong kumpleto kami as a team, as a family,” Valdez shared.
