Head coach Dante Alinsunurin appoints once again the 27-year-old skipper in their ongoing bubble training in Ilocos Norte who also runs the roster that copped the silver in the last Southeast Asian Games cycle.

“I only have but gratitude to the coaches for this another chance to be the national team captain,” De Guzman said in a statement.

“Lalo pong mas malaking pasasalamat sa aking mga teammates for their support and respect. Makakaasa po kayo na gagawin ko po ang aking makakaya para mapanatiling buo at nagkakaisa ang aming grupo para sa bayan,” he added.

The Philippine men’s indoor volleyball pool will be seeing action for the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam next year and for the 2021 AVC Asian Men’s Club Championship, scheduled on October 6 to 13 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

This will be the first time for the men’s team to compete in the continental meet since 2009.

For the 6-foot-2 opposite spiker being named the team captain means that he should not sit on his laurels, instead an indication to work harder to repay the trust given to him by the coaching staff and as well as his teammates.

“Being a team captain doesn’t mean you’re the best scorer or the most skilled player, being a team captain is a responsibility to lead the team even outside the playing court at doon po ako nagpapasalamat for allowing me to contribute more,” he said.

Currently, the national team has a 20-man pool preparing for the tournament inside a bubble in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

De Guzman will lead a pool bannered by Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, Mark Alfafara, Rex Intal, Kim Malabunga, Francis Saura, Jack Kalingking, Jessie Lopez, Ricky Marcos, Ish Polvorosa, Joshua Retamar, and Joshua Umandal.

Completing the list are newcomers Ysay Marasigan, Nico Almendras, Joeven Dela Vega, JP Bugauan, Lloyd Josafat, Kim Dayandante, and Manuel Sumanguid.

Unlike the SEA Games, the Philippines, seeing action in the AVC Asian Cup, will now compete with continental powerhouses like Japan, China, Australia, and South Korea and De Guzman pledges to continue to strive harder to reach greater heights. 

“Ang pagsisikap po namin na ito ay para sa bawat balibolistang nangangarap na ipagpatuloy na palakihin ang pagkilala at pagmamahal sa Men’s Volleyball sa Pilipinas,” he averred.