May 5, 2024, was a testament to how far Philippine volleyball has come in recent years.
On a Sunday when both the Premier Volleyball League and the UAAP held games at different arenas, both were filled to the rafters.
The final day of the PVL semifinals was witnessed by 17,834 fans at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, while the UAAP Final Four action was attended by 19,505 people at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
For Jaja Santiago, who is in the Philippines after a long season in the Japan V.League, it is the reason she wants to play again for her PVL club team, Chery Tiggo, soon.
“Actually, that’s one of the reasons why I want to play for Chery Tiggo again, because of the fans,” said Santiago on Wednesday as she watched live her alma mater National U advance to its third straight Finals.
“Not only in PVL but also in UAAP, every time that I watch a replay of any team I saw the crowd like, ‘Wow! Ito na yung crowd natin sa Pilipinas.'”
(C) Julius Domondon/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
Santiago is eligible to play for the Crossovers in the battle for third against Petro Gazz, but she decided not to suit up to avoid risking herself as she is undergoing Japanese naturalization.
The 6-foot-5 middle blocker reminisced about her days with the Lady Bulldogs back in Seasons 76 and 80, recalling how the support was not as significant as it is today.
“Before nung ako naglalaro parang yung NU Lady Bulldogs yung sumusuporta sa amin parang bibilangin mo lang, ngayon nakakatuwa, nakakataba ng puso na maglaro and mag inspire ng hindi lang matatanda kundi yung mga bata rin na gustong maglaro ng volleyball,” she said.
In NU’s win over FEU at the SMART Araneta Coliseum today, 13,054 fans were in attendance.
Santiago’s Japanese naturalization is still in process, making her still eligible to play as a local in the PVL.
“Actually, walang nakakaalam kung nasaan na siya but it’s on the process and hopefully maapprove,” said the 28-year-old international star.
She was coming off a career year in Japan with her new team, JT Marvelous, netting four individual awards: Best Spiker, Best Blocker, Fighting Spirit Award, and Best Six member.
Santiago and her team went undefeated in the elimination round but succumbed to NEC Red Rockets in the Finals.
