Lams Lamina turns idol matchup into another lesson in rookie journey

For Lams Lamina, facing Jia De Guzman across the net was more than just another game in her first professional volleyball season. It was an opportunity to learn from the very player who had once been her teammate and continues to inspire her growth as a setter.

The Galeries Tower rookie could barely contain her excitement ahead of their meeting with Creamline in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series last Saturday, eager to test herself against one of her biggest idols.

“Sobrang excited ako nung before pa lang talaga, before pa lang ako makapunta dito sa venue,” Lamina said.

Having previously played alongside De Guzman in Alas Pilipinas, the top overall pick of the 2026 PVL Draft was now seeing the eight-time Best Setter from an entirely different perspective — not as a teammate to learn from during national team duties, but as an opponent to challenge on the professional stage.

“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,” said Lamina, a two-time UAAP Best Setter.

For the 24-year-old, the experience was another valuable step in a journey defined by continuous learning, with every match presenting an opportunity to identify areas for improvement.

“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 showed flashes of promise in her first professional showdown against her idol, finishing with nine excellent sets. But De Guzman demonstrated why she remains one of the league's premier playmakers, directing Creamline's offense with precision to steer the Cool Smashers to a 27-29, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 comeback victory.

De Guzman tallied 16 excellent sets and five points to help Creamline recover from a first-set setback and hand Galeries Tower its second consecutive loss.

Yet the night offered Lamina more than a chance to measure herself against one of the country's finest setters. It also brought her face-to-face with familiar figures from her championship days at National University.

Across the net stood former NU teammates Erin Pangilinan, Sheena Toring, and Jennifer Nierva, alongside former head coach Sherwin Meneses. For Lamina, the reunion added another layer to an already meaningful matchup, allowing her to learn from people who had helped shape her game — this time from the opposing side.

“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.

The opportunity to absorb lessons from familiar faces comes at a crucial point in Lamina's career. After helping NU secure three UAAP championships, the setter is now navigating the demands of professional volleyball, where the adjustment extends beyond mastering a new system to learning how to respond when results do not go her team's way.

Her transition with Galeries Tower has been challenging. The Highrisers opened their campaign with a loss to Farm Fresh before falling to Creamline, leaving the rookie with an early reminder that the professional ranks offer a different set of tests.

For someone accustomed to winning during her collegiate years, the consecutive setbacks have become an opportunity to develop a different kind of strength.

“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,” Lamina said.

Rather than allowing the defeats to dampen her enthusiasm, Lamina is choosing to treat them as motivation to keep working, drawing from the same process that helped NU rise to championship contention.

“Tinetake 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.”