Photo credit: PVL

Jia de Guzman, the talented Filipina volleyball setter, is heading back to Japan to continue her journey with the Denso Airybees for the upcoming 2024-25 SV.League season. This marks yet another exciting chapter in her successful stint overseas, where she has quickly become a fan favorite and a key player for her team.

After an impressive run last season, where De Guzman played a crucial role in Denso’s victory in the prestigious Japan V Cup, she’s ready to take on the challenges of the newly formed SV.League. The league, which has restructured Japan’s professional volleyball landscape by merging the divisions, will now feature top-tier teams from across the country including some fresh faces like Kurashiki Ablaze, the reigning champions of the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference.

De Guzman’s contributions last season were nothing short of remarkable. Her playmaking and leadership on the court helped Denso Airybees secure a fifth-place finish in the V.League Division 1 with a solid 12-10 record. Her performance didn’t just earn her accolades in Japan but also solidified her reputation as one of the league’s top setters.

But Jia’s not alone in making waves in Japan. Fellow Filipina Jaja Santiago has also been a powerhouse in the Japanese volleyball scene, racking up individual awards over her six-year career with Ageo Medics and JT Marvelous. And let’s not forget Marck Espejo, a star of Spikers’ Turf, who recently announced his move to join Kubota Spears Osaka for the upcoming season.