Jia de Guzman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jia De Guzman |
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Julia Melissa Morado-de Guzman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Jia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Filipino | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Julia Melissa Morado May 10, 1995 |
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| Hometown | Parañaque, Philippines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 55 kg (121 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College(s) | Ateneo de Manila University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Volleyball information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Setter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Creamline Cool Smashers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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| Last updated: August 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Julia Melissa "Jia" Morado-de Guzman (born May 10, 1995) is a talented Filipina volleyball player. She is well-known for her role as a setter, which is like the quarterback of a volleyball team. Jia was a key member of the Ateneo Lady Eagles in college. Since 2015, she has also been a regular player for the Philippines Women's National Volleyball Team.
Contents
Jia De Guzman's Volleyball Journey
Early Career and College Years
Jia De Guzman showed her skills early on. In 2012, she played in the Palarong Pambansa, a big sports event for students in the Philippines. She helped her team from the NCR win the championship and was named the "Best Setter" in the tournament.
She continued to shine as the setter for the Philippine team in international competitions. These included the 2015 Asian Women's U23 Volleyball Championship and the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. During her time at Ateneo de Manila University, she was the team captain for the UAAP Season 79.
In May 2017, Jia decided to move on from college volleyball. She then joined the Creamline Cool Smashers, a professional team. She also helped coach the Ateneo Lady Eagles for a short time.
Professional Success and Awards
Jia quickly made a name for herself in professional volleyball. She won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the 2017 "Battle of the Rivals" game. She also earned the "Best Setter" award in the 2017 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference.
In 2018, her team, the Creamline Cool Smashers, won the championship in the 2018 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference. Jia was recognized as both the "Best Setter" and the "Finals' Most Valuable Player" in that tournament. She continued this success, winning more championships and individual awards at the end of the 2018 PVL season.
Playing Overseas in Japan
On August 31, 2023, Jia De Guzman took her talents to Japan. She signed a contract with the Denso Airybees team in the Japan V.League Division 1. This made her the first Filipina setter and the fifth Filipino player to compete in Japan's top volleyball league. In her first season, she helped Denso Airybees finish fifth in the league. They also won the championship in the 2023–24 Japan V.League Division 1 Women V.Cup.
Return to the Philippines and National Team Captaincy
In May 2024, Jia became the captain of the Philippines women's national volleyball team. She led the team until September of that year. The Philippine team achieved a silver medal at the 2025 AVC Women's Volleyball Nations Cup. Jia was once again named the "Best Setter" of the tournament. After this successful international run, Jia De Guzman returned to play for the Creamline Cool Smashers.
Jia De Guzman's Personal Life
Jia Morado was born in Manila to Ariel and Hedy Morado. She grew up with three siblings: two sisters and one brother. All the girls in her family played volleyball at a high level. Her older sister, Jessica Katrina, who also played for Ateneo, encouraged Jia to pursue volleyball. Her other older sister, Jamie Marielle, played as a libero for the UST Golden Tigresses. Her brother, Ariel Jr. "Bok," is also a setter for the Ateneo Blue Eagles men's volleyball team.
Jia studied at the Ateneo de Manila University, where she earned a degree in Psychology. She graduated high school from Colegio San Agustin – Makati.
On November 11, 2021, Jia married Miguel de Guzman. They had been together for six years. Miguel is a businessman and used to play baseball for De La Salle Santiago Zobel School. They both attended Ateneo de Manila University.
Clubs
Creamline Cool Smashers (2017–2023)
Denso Airybees (2023–2025)- Creamline Cool Smashers (2025-)
Awards and Recognitions
Individual Awards
- 2011 NCR Volleyball Meet "Best Setter"
- 2012 BEST Center Women’s Volleyball League "Best Setter"
- 2012 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League "Best Setter"
- 2012 NCR Palarong Panrehiyon "Best Setter"
- 2012 NCR Palarong Panrehiyon "Most Valuable Player"
- 2012 Palarong Pambansa "Best Setter"
- 2013 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League "Best Setter"
- 2015 UAAP Season 77 "Best Setter"
- 2016 Shakey's V-League 13th Season Collegiate Conference "Best Setter"
- 2017 Battle of the Rivals "Most Valuable Player"
- 2017 Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Open Conference "Best Setter"
- 2018 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference "Best Setter"
- 2018 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference "Finals' Most Valuable Player"
- 2018 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference "Best Setter"
- 2018 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference "Finals' Most Valuable Player"
- 2019 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference "Best Setter"
- 2019 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference "Best Setter"
- 2019 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference "Finals Most Valuable Player"
- 2021 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference "Best Setter"
- 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference "Best Setter"
- 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference "Best Setter"
- 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference "Finals Most Valuable Player"
- 2024 Asian Women's Volleyball Challenge Cup "Best Setter"
- 2024 SEA Women's V.League – First Leg "Best Setter"
- 2025 AVC Women's Volleyball Nations Cup "Best Setter"
Special Recognition
- 2024 Philippine Sportswriters Association – Ms. Volleyball
Team Achievements in College
- 2014 UAAP Season 76 volleyball tournaments –
Champions, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles - 2014 Shakey's V-League 12th Season Collegiate Conference –
Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles - 2014 ASEAN University Games Volleyball 2014 –
Bronze medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles - 2015 UAAP Season 77 volleyball tournaments – Champions, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
- 2016 UAAP Season 78 volleyball tournaments – Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
- 2016 Shakey's V-League 13th Season Collegiate Conference – Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
- 2016 ASEAN University Games Volleyball 2016 – Bronze medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
- 2017 UAAP Season 79 volleyball tournaments – Silver medal, with Ateneo De Manila University Lady Eagles
Team Achievements in Clubs
- 2017 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference – Third place, with Creamline Cool Smashers
- 2018 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference – Champions, with Creamline Cool Smashers
- 2018 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference – Champions, with Creamline Cool Smashers
- 2019 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference – Runner-up, with Creamline Cool Smashers
- 2019 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference – Champions, with Creamline Cool Smashers
- 2021 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference – Runner-up, with Creamline Cool Smashers
- 2022 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference – Champions, with Creamline Cool Smashers
- 2022 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference – Champions, with Creamline Cool Smashers
- 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference – Third place, with Creamline Cool Smashers
- 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference – Champions, with Creamline Cool Smashers
- 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference – Runner-up, with Creamline Cool Smashers
- 2023–24 Japan V.League Division 1 Women V.Cup – Champions, with Denso Airybees
- 72nd Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament – Runner-up, with Denso Airybees
