MANILA, May 22 ------ Jia Morado-De Guzman is ready to lead Alas Pilipinas in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup. The veteran setter will serve as the Filipina spikers’ team captain in her return to the national team, but when the captaincy was given to the Ateneo de Manila University legend, De Guzman admitted that there was a feeling of being overwhelmed due to the responsibility. “It took a while for me to process that, na kami na 'yung seniors ng team, but at the same time, we were raised very well ng seniors in the past when we were the young ones,” she said during the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s (PNVF) pre-tournament press conference in Makati.
De Guzman — who previously played with the national team alongside the likes of Alyssa Valdez, Kim Fajardo, and her other fellow former UAAP stars — is now, together with Dawn Macandili-Catindig, taking on a senior role for a team that is composed of mostly young collegiate and PVL stars. “We also miss 'yung seniors namin before, but right now, whoever is here, we know will deliver well. Lahat kami may kanya kanyang strengths.”
She also pointed out that competing sans her former Ateneo and Creamline teammates for the first time while she was in Japan with Denso Airybees helped in her transition to playing with unfamiliar faces. “Even before being called to the national team, 'yung time ko in Japan na hindi ko kasama si Ate Alyssa and other players na I was so used to playing with in a long time, 'yun 'yung isang nami-miss ko din, 'yung magtinginan lang kami alam na namin 'yung iniisip ng isa’t isa.” “Kaya right now, 'yun naman ang tinatry naming i-form na connection sa team.” she added.
This is not the first time that De Guzman was tasked to take on the role of captain of a team. She was previously tasked with the same responsibility for the Lady Eagles in Season 79 in 2017, but for her, there are a lot of differences between Ateneo and Alas. “Leading Ateneo as the team captain, I’ve been with the girls for years. This time around with the national team, we seniors are expected to lead players from different systems. So it takes a lot of adjustments din kasi we also want to get to know every person inside the team,” she explained, while continuing that this is the gap that they are trying to slowly bridge. “Iba rin naman kumilos ang bawat player sa loob ng court, and that’s what we wish to know in the years to come.” she said. To add to this, Jia is also banking on her experience in Japan. “I think one of the strengths of Japan volleyball is how simple but very efficient they play, so that’s one thing that we’re trying to teach every member of the team now,” she shared.
On the other hand, De Guzman added that fortunately, everybody in Alas is looking out for each other regardless of tenure. “For me, being the team captain is just a formality because I have Dawn and the other seniors helping me out. Even the young ones are ready to take on their roles as well,” she said. “Jen [Nierva] and Dawn are really taking charge with defense, the middle blockers are taking care of blocking and net defense. It’s not hard leading a team with so many leaders inside,” continued the former Cool Smasher, while also hailing the capabilities and prowess of her teammates. “They’re so physically strong and lahat ng gusto namin ipagawa sa kanila, they will do it. Kaming seniors, we’re also challenged to keep up with them, but at the same time, the young ones are very eager to learn from our experiences from the past.”
And now that she is the lead playmaker of the national team, the former Lady Eagle emphasized it is all about leading and playing by example as well as competing in unison. “We’re just doing what [our seniors] did for us so it’s not that hard to lead this team,” said De Guzman. “The job of a setter is not to connect lang with the spikers eh. I also have to connect well with the others.” “Kaya kami Alas Pilipinas kasi we all have our different strengths that if we put together, it will bring good results for the country,” she ended.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
Comments