Jia De Guzman is grateful to have the experience and prowess of her longtime Creamline teammate Jema Galanza in Alas Pilipinas.
When Jia de Guzman shared the court with Jema Galanza during an Alas Pilipinas practice session, she could not help but reflect on how time had passed since they last teamed up.
It has almost been a year since de Guzman and Galanza shared the court for Creamline in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference, where the Cool Smashers settled for silver to Japanese team Kurashiki Ablaze.
After the mid-season tournament, De Guzman took her act to the Denso Airybees for a breakthrough overseas stint in the Japan V. League while Galanza stayed put and helped Creamline capture two consecutive titles.
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Despite the time apart, the connection between the two has remained as strong as ever.
“Actually, when we first started training together, we realized na parang almost a year kaming hindi magkasama. But noong first day in court, parang nandoon pa rin ‘yung connection,” De Guzman said.
“Very happy ako about that.”
Having shared multiple title conquests for the Cool Smashers, De Guzman is well aware of the significant impact Galanza has on a team.
So it should come as no surprise that the decorated setter, who steered Alas to a historic bronze in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup, is pleased to have Galanza on board.
“Jema has always been a stable presence inside the court especially kapag nakakasama ko siya. So we’re very happy she's here in the national team,” De Guzman said.
Since her return to national duty, Galanza has been a consistently positive influence on the tricolor squad, which features young talents like Angel Canino, Thea Gagate, Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.
[ALSO READ: Jia de Guzman grateful for addition of Jema Galanza, Bella Belen, and Alyssa Solomon to Alas Pilipinas]
“She also gives a lot of guidance and wisdom to the young ones,” De Guzman said.
“Grabe rin ‘yung experience niya all throughout these years. So malaking bagay na nandito siya sa loob ng team.”
De Guzman and Galanza are set for their on-court reunion when Alas takes on Vietnam in the upcoming 2024 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Challenger Cup slated July 4 to 7 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.