VICTORIAS, Negros Occidental — Alyssa Valdez and Jaja Santiago are set for a short but meaningful reunion in Creamline for the upcoming 2026 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.
Santiago, who carries the Japanese name Sachi Minowa, signed with the Cool Smashers for the conference while waiting for the League One Volleyball season in the United States to begin.
In Creamline, she reunites with her longtime friend and mentor, Valdez, with the two going way back to their high school playing days at the University of Santo Tomas.
With the addition of Santiago, the Cool Smashers are considered heavy favorites in the week-long Invitational, which features defending champion PLDT, Farm Fresh, Nxled, and guest teams Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam and EST Cola of Thailand.
And Valdez is simply grateful that this time around, they will not have to worry about containing the 6-foot-5 middle blocker, as they are now playing on the same side of the court.
The last time they faced each other was in the Finals of the 2021 PVL Open Conference in the Bacarra bubble. There, Santiago’s Chery Tiggo claimed the championship after three hard-fought games against Valdez’s Creamline.
(C) PVL Images
“Sa totoo lang, yung sinasabi namin kay Jaja — buti na lang teammate namin si Jaja, buti na lang. At as in yung words namin kanina, buti na lang teammate namin si Jaja sa serve pa lang, sa block, sa palo,” said the 33-year-old outside spiker.
“Iba din yung natuturo niya sa’min, learning namin. Grabe yung growth ni Jaja, hindi lang patangkad, talagang pati mentally, physically, emotionally, grabe yung growth niya as a player. So, I’m just very, very happy to be with her again and learning all these things from her. So, can’t wait to learn much more from her,” Valdez continued.
The Invitational Conference will kick off on August 31 and run until September 8, with all games set to be played at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Santiago already had her first taste of action in her return to the PVL on Saturday at the jam-packed Victorias City Coliseum here, helping the Cool Smashers sweep the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 25-21, 25-16, 25-21.
Valdez led Creamline’s balanced attack with 10 points, while Santiago added six.
For Santiago, a two-time Best Middle Blocker in Japan’s SV.League, playing for the Cool Smashers allows her to play carefree, thanks to Valdez’s leadership and guidance.
“Sobrang happy. Sabi ko nga kanina, nakaka-overwhelm na makalaro ulit dito sa Pilipinas. And of course, makasama ulit si Ate Ly sa loob ng court,” said Santiago, who spent seven seasons in Japan’s top-level league before taking her talents to the United States.
“We know na si Ate Ly is one of our leaders talaga. And masarap lang maglaro sa loob ng court na walang iniisip kasi alam mong kasama mo rin siya.”
