It was a perfect Sunday for Filipino volleyball imports in Japan as the teams of Jaja Santiago, Maddie Madayag, Marck Espejo, and Jia de Guzman all cruised to dominant wins.
After seeing their 11-game winning streak stopped on Saturday, Santiago’s Osaka exacted vengeance on SV.League defending champion NEC, taking a 25-13, 25-21, 25-19 sweep in just 73 minutes at the Culttz Kawasaki arena.
Now known as Sachi Minowa in Japan, Santiago poured in eight points on six spikes, a block, and an ace in the victory that pushed the Marvelous to a league-leading 18-4 record.
Lise Van Hecke and Kotona Hayashi led the scoring for Osaka with 15 points each, dropping the Red Rockets down to fifth place at 14-8.
Over at the Ariso Dome, Madayag gaining minutes has become a positive factor for Kurobe as they racked up their third straight win with a 25-18, 25-19, 25-14 mauling of Toray.
After not playing in the Aqua Fairies’ first 21 matches, Madayag earned minutes as a service specialist and since then, Kurobe holds a 3-1 record to improve their tally to 9-15.
Santiago and Madayag will face off next weekend (Jan. 18 and 19) when Osaka and Kurobe collide at the Green Arena Kobe.
It was also a bounce-back win for De Guzman’s Denso, pulling off a 26-24, 25-19, 25-22 triumph over PFU a day after having their six-game winning run cut short.
De Guzman, the Philippines’ most decorated setter, however, was not in uniform for the sixth straight game.
In Men’s V.League action, Espejo’s Kubota Spears also returned to their winning ways, dealing Kinden Trinity Blitz a 25-22, 19-25, 28-26, 26-24 beating at the Higashiyodogawa Gymnasium.
Espejo only played in two sets as a service specialist as Yujiro Sunagawa top-scored for Kubota with 21 points to maintain their second-place standing in the West Division at 12-2.
