Battle-scarred setter Jia de Guzman skipped her return to Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League for a bigger purpose – help the country win a medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.
De Guzman was named as Alas Pilipinas’ captain in the 19-strong squad that was finalized yesterday by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.
Apart from De Guzman, Alyssa Solomon, Bella Belen, Angel Canino, Eya Laure, Shaina Nitura, Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma, Justine Jazareno and Vannie Gandler were named to the pool.
The rest were Kat Tolentino, Julia Coronel, Dawn Catindig, Mars Alba, Jen Nierva, Alleliah Malaluan, Dell Palomata, Amie Povido and Maddie Madayag.
The same pool will temporarily leave their respective PVL and collegiate teams to join a training camp from Nov. 15 to 30 in Japan or Chinese Taipei.
Meanwhile, the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles extended their sizzling run in the PVL Reinforced Conference, dismantling veteran-laden Petro Gazz Angels, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre yesterday.
Earlier, Akari bounced back from a heartbreaking five-set loss with a 25-11, 25-23, 25-23 win over Galeries Tower.