Jia De Guzman keeps focus on SEAG stint ahead of Korean V-League decision
Four-time Premier Volleyball League Finals Most Valuable Player Jia De Guzman is keeping her focus in the upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian Games as she awaits her overseas fate in the Korean V-League.
The Creamline setter, along with six other players from PVL, took their chances in the Korean league after sending in a video application as part of the Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) Asian quota.
The results, however, are yet to be announced on April 21 via an online ceremony.
With the overseas opportunity just in sight, De Guzman said that her national team duties come first.
*Jia De Guzman of the Creamline Cool Smashers. (PVL Images)*
“Well, I submitted an application. They actually cancelled the face-to-face tryout. So, they are relying on videos and the draft will happen in the third week of April. Doon malalaman if a team is interested in getting us, sa mga nag-apply” said De Guzman. And right now, I’m really just focusing on the national team also. Kasi iyong next target namin is SEA Games. And we’re really trying to get a podium finish also,” she added. De Guzman, like F2 Logistics players Majoy Baron, Iris Tolenada, Dindin Santiago-Manabat of Akari, Mylene Paat of Chery Tiggo and MJ Phillips of Petro Gazz will be part of the selection pool in the Korean opportunity. “Well, I want to be optimistic and I wouldn’t apply naman if I wasn’t shooting for it. But whether I get it or not, I know I have the team’s back naman,” she furthered. With the biennial meet slated in May, the national team will be holding its team practices at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum before heading to Japan for overseas training. Six other Cool Smashers will see action alongside De Guzman in the regional tilt including the recovering skipper Alyssa Valdez, something that motivates the playmaker as it will be the third international competition that the reigning PVL All-Filipino champion will be taking on. “Well, it’s actually a big reason why very motivated kami to train. Kasi almost half kami, half the team is Creamline. We wanna bring also iyong mga natututunan namin sa Conference and add more firepower pa from other the starts of other teams. So excited kami to play with players from different teams din,” she concluded.
*Jia De Guzman of the Creamline Cool Smashers. (PVL Images)*
“Well, I submitted an application. They actually cancelled the face-to-face tryout. So, they are relying on videos and the draft will happen in the third week of April. Doon malalaman if a team is interested in getting us, sa mga nag-apply” said De Guzman. And right now, I’m really just focusing on the national team also. Kasi iyong next target namin is SEA Games. And we’re really trying to get a podium finish also,” she added. De Guzman, like F2 Logistics players Majoy Baron, Iris Tolenada, Dindin Santiago-Manabat of Akari, Mylene Paat of Chery Tiggo and MJ Phillips of Petro Gazz will be part of the selection pool in the Korean opportunity. “Well, I want to be optimistic and I wouldn’t apply naman if I wasn’t shooting for it. But whether I get it or not, I know I have the team’s back naman,” she furthered. With the biennial meet slated in May, the national team will be holding its team practices at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum before heading to Japan for overseas training. Six other Cool Smashers will see action alongside De Guzman in the regional tilt including the recovering skipper Alyssa Valdez, something that motivates the playmaker as it will be the third international competition that the reigning PVL All-Filipino champion will be taking on. “Well, it’s actually a big reason why very motivated kami to train. Kasi almost half kami, half the team is Creamline. We wanna bring also iyong mga natututunan namin sa Conference and add more firepower pa from other the starts of other teams. So excited kami to play with players from different teams din,” she concluded.