Jaja Santiago-Minowa’s championship dream with Creamline may have slipped away, but the towering middle blocker is not ready to let the Cool Smashers’ campaign end empty-handed.
Creamline was just a set away from securing a return trip to the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference finale. However, the team fell short after suffering a heartbreaking five-set loss to PLDT on Sunday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
It was a disappointing end to what had been shaping up to be a memorable campaign for the Cool Smashers, who secured the services of one of the best, if not the best, talents the country has ever produced for the Invitational Conference.
Creamline stormed to three straight wins to open the tournament, only to drop its final two matches and miss out on a spot in the championship round.
“We are really aiming doon sa championship. I’m really sad, and I really feel bad na hindi ko nabigay sa kanila yun in a short span na nandito ako sa kanila maglalaro,” said Minowa, who is only available for a short stint with Creamline before heading to the United States for her upcoming campaign with San Francisco Signal in the LOVB.
(C) PVL Images
Despite the disappointing outcome, Minowa believes the Cool Smashers’ campaign is far from over as she shifts her focus to helping Creamline secure the bronze medal before she departs.
“Of course, yun nga, tough loss talaga, and lahat naman siguro binigay yung best, and sadyang kulang lang talaga sa dulo. And siguro, in short, preparation for everything na nakakalaban namin, we are really, I think, kulang,” said Minowa, who finished with 25 points on 15 attacks, nine blocks, and one ace.
“Hindi pa naman tapos yung laban. We still have a game on Tuesday. And it’s not finals, it’s not for gold, but we can change it — the mindset na it’s like finals kasi kahit ano mangyari, pag nanalo kami, we will get the medal. It’s still the same. It’s not the gold, but still, a win is a win, so we really need to work hard for Tuesday, and it’s a must-win,” she added.
With just one game left in the six-day tournament, Minowa knows the veteran-laden Cool Smashers are already feeling the grind.
Still, she wants the team to give everything it has left on Tuesday in its rematch against the High Speed Hitters and fight for a podium finish before her short stint with Creamline comes to an end.
“Lahat naman talaga pagod eh. I think it’s a matter na paano mo ilalaban hanggang dulo,” said the former PVL Conference MVP.
“I’m gonna work harder sa Tuesday, no matter what happens, and at least go for a podium finish siguro.”
