The Creamline Cool Smashers are playing in their first PVL finals without the veteran setter.
Jia de Guzman may be miles away from her previous team, but the beloved former Creamline Cool Smashers setter made sure that her love and presence were felt when the girls in pink took first blood in the PVL Second All Filipino Conference against sister team Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
In a short but sweet Tweet, Jia expressed her excitement as the Cool Smashers are now one win away from sweeping the entire tournament.
"My heart!!!" Jia said on X (formerly Twitter).
Alyssa Valdez and Jema Galanza couldn't help but get sentimental over their all-star "cheerleader."
According to Galanza, de Guzman has always supported them and gave words of encouragement while she was carving her own journey in Japan.
"Since day one namin lagi siyang nagte-text sa amin. Kahit sa personal messages laging naggu-good luck at sinasabi na lumaban lang kami. Sobrang happy lang nakita ko siya kanina sa screen. Nakaka-miss siya sa loob ng court kasi iba rin si ate Jia, kung gaano niya pinapagalaw team namin. Thank you so much ate Ji," Galanza said.
Valdez shares the same sentiment for Jia, who she played with since college.
"It’s my first time to play with Creamline na wala si Jia. Medyo iba rin pagdating sa amin. We’ve been playing with Kyle din naman. Nakaka-miss si Jia," Valdez told reporters.
And while they acknowledge the greatness of current setter Kyle Negrito, Valdez said having Jia in a pressure-packed finals would still feel different.
"Iba rin ‘yung composure niya in terms of pagdating sa ganitong games."
One good thing fans could bank on though is the thought of a reunion in the future.
We’re really happy for her kasi ang ganda rin ng pinapakita niya sa Japan. And we’re looking forward na sana mag-reunite kami soon. Maybe on and off the court.
(With reports from Jamie Velasco, One Sports Digital)