Jia de Guzman could not play for the Creamline Cool Smashers in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference, league commissioner Sherwin Malonzo said on Thursday, March 7.
In contrast, fellow import Japan V.League Jaja Santiago can suit up for the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.
“Bale si Jaja [Santiago], I saw her in the lineup of Chery Tiggo. If she arrives, she can play. But in the case of Jia, I didn’t see her name. We already ended our registration nung before pa mag-start,” Malonzo told reporters at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The Creamline side might have overlooked the registration process, Malonzo said.
“I think na-overlook ‘yun sa side ng Creamline. ‘Di nila nakita na wala ‘yung pangalan ni Jia. Sadly, hindi makakalaro si Jia this conference. Every conference naman, we submit different lineups kung ano ‘yung gagamitin nila,” he claimed.
“‘Yung 20 slots na ‘yun kasi must be filled up or, rather before the start of the tournament, you need to submit your lineup kasi. Your team composition, maximum of 20 players. Of the 20 players, each match, you will assign the 14 who will play. So in the case of Jaja, she’s a part of the 20. Jia is not. So ‘yun ‘yung problema,” Malonzo added.
Santiago had a triumphant stint with the JT Marvelous in the Japan V.League after finishing in second place, while De Guzman and the Denso Airybees ended their campaign with a fifth-place finish.
Meanwhile, De Guzman’s management has informed ABS-CBN News that any plans to play in the PVL have been put on hold while she is under contract in Japan, which Creamline has been informed of.
De Guzman is committed to playing for the Denso Airybees in their 2023-2024 campaign in Japan, which comes with the support of Creamline management.
“Jia’s commitment to Denso is with the coordination and approval of the Creamline management,” her representative said in a message to ABS-CBN News.
“We are thankful for the respect that the Creamline management has given Jia in order to be able to fully focus on her commitment to Denso.”
Creamline management also made it clear that De Guzman’s non-inclusion in their roster is “not an oversight.”
“Jia’s still under contract with Denso up to the end of the first conference. She informed us already about this since last year, so her non-inclusion in the [All-Filipino] list was not an oversight,” Alan Acero said in a message to ABS-CBN News. (ABS-CBN News)