MANILA, Philippines — Creamline received a particular name from Jia De Guzman all the way in which from Osaka, Japan moments earlier than its first Finals match in opposition to sister group Choco Mucho within the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) second All-Filipino Convention on Thursday.
Earlier than the Cool Smashers’ starters have been launched, a recorded name of De Guzman together with her Alyssa Valdez was flashed on the display of the Mall of Asia Enviornment with the eight-time finest setter wishing her group good luck of their tenth finals look with out her for the primary time resulting from her ongoing V.League stint with the Denso Airybees.
The star playmaker’s message impressed the Cool Smashers, who unleashed a collective effort to remain unbeaten in 14 video games and stave off first-time finalists, Flying Titans, 25-23, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22, inching nearer to an All-Filipino “three-peat.”
De Guzman tweeted “My coronary heart!” full of pink coronary heart emojis shortly after Creamline’s win.
My coronary heart!!! 💗💗💗
— Julia de Guzman 🌸 (@juliamdeguzman) December 14, 2023
Valdez, who had 11 factors together with the clutch kills within the third set, admitted she missed enjoying with De Guzman, her setter since faculty, however she is glad for her longtime teammate dwelling her dream in Japan.
“It’s my first time to play with Creamline na wala si Jia, so medyo iba rin yung courting sa amin, however we’ve been enjoying with Kyle din naman. Nakaka-miss din si Jia kasi iba rin yung composure niya by way of these large video games. However we’re actually glad for her kasi ang ganda rin naman ng pinapakita niya sa Japan and we’re wanting ahead na sana mag-reunite kami quickly, might or not it’s on or off the courtroom,” stated the three-time PVL MVP.
Progress and maturity
The 30-year-old Valdez, who didn’t play within the first All-Filipino Convention resulting from her harm, praised the expansion and maturity of the Cool Smashers as others stepped up regardless of lacking De Guzman and center blocker Ced Domingo, who’s enjoying in Thailand for Nakhon Ratchasima.
“Grabe yung progress and maturity ng lahat. Andami rin naming pinagdaanan, there was this convention na ako yung wala at nandun naman sina Jia. Ang ganda rin nung naging setup ng mga nangyari sa amin, and now, even when kung sino yung ipasok ni coach, talagang might identification na,” she stated. “Kilala na nila yung sarili nila on how they play and the way we play as a group. So I feel a really essential half is we’ve got to stay to the system talaga. No less than, very glad, very happy with all of them.”
Jema Galanza, who additionally led the way in which for Creamline with 16 factors, stated she was impressed by De Guzman’s message.
“Since Day 1 namin, lagi siyang nagttext samin goodluck, galingan namin and kahit sa private messages namin, talagang nagogoodluck and lagi nagsasabi na lumaban lang kami and sobrang glad lang na nakita ko siya kanina sa display kasi syempre nakakamiss siya sa loob ng courtroom kasi iba din talaga si Ate Jia, kung gano siya kakalma, kung gano niya pinapagalaw din yung group namin. So, thanks a lot Ate Jia,” Galanza stated.
Though they missed De Guzman, Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses and Tots Carlos credited their unbeaten run and present success to setter Kyle Negrito, who had 22 glorious units in Sport 1.
“Truly namimiss namin si Jia pero syempre, trabaho ko volleyball so kailangan namin mag-move on. Naka transfer on na kami so, kasi yung nilalaro ni Kyle ngayon, sobrang taas talaga. Pero syempre namimiss namin si Jia, pero Kyle is nandito,” Meneses stated. “Si Kyle ang talagang kumbaga pumalit kay Jia so lahat ng strain nasakanya, nalalampasan niya so about volleyball, nandiyan naman si Kyle pero persona namin sa group talagang namimiss din namin siya.”
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“Earlier than naman umalis si ate Jia, na-mindset naman na kami. So yun nga, kagaya ng sinabi ni coach nung nalaman namin yun, we’re ready going to the season na si Kyle [Negrito] talaga yung maglalaro. So we actually admire si coach na talagang tinutulungan niya yung buong group and si Kyle talagang nagse-step up din,” stated Carlos, who had 16 factors.
Creamline tries to clinch its first title with out De Guzman in Sport 2 on Saturday, gunning for its seventh general title and fifth All-Filipino crown.