Alas Pilipinas captain Jia de Guzman. Photo from Joaqui Flores/Premier Volleyball League

MANILA – (UPDATED) Alas Pilipinas players have commended Jia de Guzman's leadership as the Philippines paraded towards the semifinal round of the the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup.

From their first match in Pool A up to the last on Sunday, national team members have praised De Guzman's ability to take charge — a sentiment echoed starting from Angel Canino and coach Jorge de Brito after their game against Australia in Day 1 of the tournament.

READ: Volleyball: Alas Pilipinas triumphant in first assignment in AVC Challenge Cup

Despite limited time for preparation, Canino said the star setter is one of the reasons why Alas has teamwork.

"Maikli lang 'yung time, 'yung preparation namin pero nagawa namin 'to which is led by coaches and Ate Jia [de Guzman] talaga. And ayun, nakakatuwa lang din kasi fina-follow namin si Ate Jia and 'yung coaches that's why meron kaming teamwork," the De La Salle University standout said after a 22-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-21 triumph over Australia on Thursday.

 De Brito asserted that the decorated playmaker is the "best" setter right now in the tourney due to her rich experience overseas with Denso Airybees.

 "Everybody in this gym, also the opponents know that she's the best setter. She's one of the best setters we have. She already played outside the country and she's been leading one team, winning and winning for years, so she has this capacity to lead some young guys," De Brito said of De Guzman.

Team captain Jia de Guzman dives for the ball in Alas Pilipinas' battle against Australia in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on May 23, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

READ: AVC Challenge Cup: Alas Pilipinas ends India's winning run

Former Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Sisi Rondina also commended De Guzman's guidance on Saturday.

This was the time when the Philippines defeated Iran to clinch a spot in the semis.

READ: AVC Challenge Cup: Alas Pilipinas clinches semis spot in rout of Iran

"Alam niyo, na-amaze ako sa mga teammates namin ngayon kasi ang bilis mag-adjust and parang pare-pareho lang kami talaga ng role. Kung ano 'yung kailangan gawin, pinupunan. And which is, ang bilis na rin maka-adjust. Lalong-lalo na led by Ate Jia kaya ayun, thankful ako sa kanila kasi sobrang napapadali yung trabaho namin," said Rondina after a 25-16, 25-13, 25-15 sweep of Iranians.

READ: Semis-bound Alas Pilipinas sweeps Pool A of AVC Challenge Cup

For Faith Nisperos, playing with the eight-time PVL Best Setter was a huge confidence boost.

"It is definitely a one-time experience na nakasama ko si Ate Jia inside the court and her calling me was malaking bagay for me kasi talagang pinakita na may tiwala siya sa akin," the Akari mainstay said after a 25-13, 25-21, 25-18 victory over Chinese Taipei.

"If may tiwala siya sa akin, siyempre ako din dapat magtiwala sa sarili ko," she went on.

Nisperos cracked the starting lineup against Chinese Taipei and added nine for the Alas scoring.

In addition to Alas members' commendations, former national team ace Jaja Santiago also acknowledged on Sunday De Guzman's ability to glue the team together, especially inside the court, adding that the former Creamline Cool Smasher "leads the team really well."

"Actually, I don't know how to react to their chemistry right now. Katulad nga ng sabi ko kanina, in a short of time, their connection is really strong immediately. And I think, one of the reasons also, Jia leads the team really well and I think that's one of the good things now na meron nagli-lead sa kanila sa loob ng court and [they] really follow," Santiago said.

The national team had a combined 188 attack points across four matches in the preliminary round, which could be attributed to De Guzman's playmaking prowess on the taraflex as the main setter.

Alas Pilipinas will try to prove that their Pool A sweep is not a fluke as they take on Kazakhstan on Tuesday in a do-or-die match in the semis.

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