VICTORIAS, Negros Occidental — Volleyball fans made sure Jaja Santiago knew just how much they’ve missed her in the Philippines.
And the 6-foot-5 tower, in return, granted as many selfies, autographs, and photos as she could after her first game back in the country in five years — this time with Creamline.
It was a triumphant homecoming for Santiago, who helped the Cool Smashers sweep the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 25-21, 25-16, 25-21, in front of a massive, roaring crowd that trooped to the Victorias City Coliseum here on Saturday for a successful conclusion to the 2026 PVL On Tour Showdown.
Santiago definitely missed the wild Filipino crowd, as her last stint in the country in 2021 with Chery Tiggo happened in a bubble setup during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Santiago led the then-Chery Tiggo Crossovers to the PVL’s first professional championship in the Bacarra, Ilocos Norte bubble, defeating her current team, the Cool Smashers, in three games in the Finals.
“Sobrang nakaka-proud na ang daming nanonood sa atin ngayon. Despite na anong oras na rin, nandito sila, todo suporta, and yung effort talaga is there. Sobrang grateful namin na — alam mo yun, yung volleyball dito sa atin sa Philippines is really growing,” said Santiago, who also carries the Japanese name Sachi Minowa.
“And sa loob kasi ng court, kung maririnig ko yung gantong cheer, madadala ka eh. Sila yung parang nagbibigay din sa’yo ng power, ng lakas talaga sa loob ng court. And lagi ko nga sinasabi, itong crowd na ito, itong mga fans na ito, sila rin yung dahilan kung bakit kami nandito,” she continued.
Since her last stint with Chery Tiggo, Santiago has won two Best Middle Blocker awards in the Japan SV.League, Japan’s top-level volleyball tournament.
She spent seven seasons in Japan before taking her talents to the United States’ League One Volleyball (LOVB), which will begin in early 2027, paving the way for her stint with the Cool Smashers in the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference.
Creamline, an early favorite following its signing of Santiago, will go head-to-head with defending champion PLDT, Farm Fresh, Nxled, Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, and Thailand’s EST Cola in the week-long Invitational beginning on August 31. All games will take place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Even after getting her feet wet with the one-game appearance in the province-hopping PVL On Tour, Santiago is still taking extra caution heading into the Invitational.
“Siyempre, iba pa rin sa Invitational kasi may makakalaban din kami na Vietnam, Thailand. Magandang preparation itong On Tour sa amin sa team kasi we still have a lot of adjustments na kailangang ayusin sa team. And we’re not perfect,” she said.
“Sa Invitational, we’re gonna do our very best. Yan lang, magiging tight yung schedule and hoping na maganda yung recovery ng bawat isa every day, every game.”
