De Guzman's answer is as wholesome and smart as it gets.
Filling in the shoes of a superstar setter like Jia De Guzman is no easy feat.
But Kyle Negrito took on that challenge and delivered, as she helped the Creamline Cool Smashers complete another sweep in last year's 2nd All-Filipino Conference for a seventh title in the PVL.
None could be prouder of Kyle than her ‘Ate’ Jia, whom she’s constantly asked for help during the season.
“I'm so so proud of Kyle. I know how hard she worked for that,” De Guzman said during an interview on One Sports’ The Game.
De Guzman, who has been playing for the Denso Airybees in Japan, admitted that she initially didn’t want Negrito to join the team back in 2019—but her reason will make you love Jia even further.
“Back when Creamline was thinking of recruiting Kyle way before the pandemic, I did not want her on the team not because I didn't like her, she's an amazing person, but because I respected and admired her as one of the high-caliber setters in the country,” said De Guzman.
“She can help raise the level of volleyball in the country by setting as a starter in another team in PVL. And she knows this. I shared this with her. But I'm glad she went to Creamline because I also get my fair share of advice and confidence boost from her,” she added.
Now in the starting role for Creamline, Negrito has proven that she is indeed one of the top setters in the country.
With Jia continuing to support her every step of the way, the sky is the limit for Kyle—maybe a Best Setter Award in the coming PVL conferences perhaps?