Creamline will open its title defense without the one player it had hoped would play – Jia de Guzman – as PLDT eyes a third straight title in the forthcoming Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.
‘Management has decided Jia is sitting this one out,’ said Creamline team captain Alyssa Valdez during yesterday’s PVL presser at the Discovery Suites.
No reason was given but De Guzman is apparently focusing on training for the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December with Alas Pilipinas where she is the team captain.
De Guzman, who last saw action for the Cool Smashers two years ago, is expected to return to her mother club in next year’s All-Filipino Conference.
Meanwhile, the High Speed Hitters, who have won two titles in a row in the PVL on Tour and Invitational, are hoping the stars would align anew for a shot at a third crown.
Helping the High Speed Hitters in chase of glory is Russian import Anastasia Bavykina.
‘She’s a good fit,’ said PLDT manager Bajjie del Rosario of their reinforcement.
The Reinforced Conference kicks off Tuesday at the Ynares Center in Montalban with ZUS Coffee and Akari pitted in the 4 p.m. curtain-raiser followed by the 6:30 p.m. showdown between Capital1 and Choco Mucho.
Interestingly, Petro Gazz, has appointed husband and wife Gary and Lisa Van Sickle as coach and assistant, respectively.