Lams Lamina had played alongside Jia De Guzman with Alas Pilipinas. On Saturday, the Galeries Tower Highrisers rookie faced her idol from the other side of the net for the first time.
The No. 1 pick of the 2026 PVL Draft said she was looking forward to the matchup long before she got to the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
“Sobrang excited ako nung before pa lang talaga, before pa lang ako makapunta dito sa venue,” said Lamina.
Lamina Learns From Someone She Admires
For the two-time UAAP Best Setter, going up against the eight-time PVL Best Setter was a chance to learn from someone she has admired throughout her career.
“And then, ayun, malaking bagay din po for me na makalaban si Ate Jia kasi marami po akong matututunan sa kanya at mas ma-motivate ako at ma-inspire ako,” she said.
“Malaking bagay po sa akin yung laro namin, every game, actually. So ayun, natapos pa lang po yung dalawang games. Pero mahaba-haba pa po yung series. Marami pa pong matututunan, especially yung team po namin, na kailangan po naming i-improve yung mga skills na dapat po naming i-improve,” she added.
Lamina competed well, but de Guzman won the day. The Creamline Cool Smashers playmaker had 16 excellent sets and 5 points as the Cool Smashers beat the Highrisers, 27-29, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 for their second win in the 2026–27 PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series. Lamina finished with 9 excellent sets in the loss.
The game also put Lamina across the net from several familiar faces from National University. Former teammates Erin Pangilinan, Sheena Toring, and Jennifer Nierva are now with Creamline, as is her former college coach, Sherwin Meneses.
“Ako, happy ako kasi, siyempre, this is my first time na I’m going… Parang maglalaro ako against them. And ayun, malaking bagay din siya for me kasi parang tingin ko, parang iba-iba naman. Parang makalaban ko naman sila. Parang ano naman, matutunan ko po sa kanila,” she said.
Losing Is a New Thing for Lamina
Her first professional season hasn’t started the way she’s used to. Galeries Tower has opened with losses to the Farm Fresh Foxies and Creamline. That’s new territory for a three-time UAAP champion who rarely lost in college, but Lamina sees the losses as part of her growth.
“Right now kasi, yung nangyari kasi sa amin is the first two losses. While nung college ako, parang lagi nangyayari is nananalo. So, itong loss namin is malaking bagay siya for me, kasi parang dito ako matututo talaga ng patience and resilience,” she said.
“Tine-take ko siya as motivation pa na mas kailangan magpursige pa. Kasi back then, pag sa college life naman namin, nag-start din naman kami from scratch hanggang makuha namin yung gusto naming goal. So, malaking bagay ito sa aming team.”
Galeries Tower will next face the Nxled Chameleons on Thursday, October 22, 1:00 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
