After seven productive years in Japan, capped with a championship in the SV.League, Jaja Santiago-Minowa is ready to take her career to the next level.
Santiago, who spent four seasons with Ageo Medics and the last two with Osaka Marvelous, is now exploring opportunities in Europe for her next move.
“So far, wala pa kaming plan mag-asawa, naghahanap pa kami ng opportunities namin — hopefully Europe,” Santiago shared on Wednesday during her alma mater National University and De La Salle University’s Finals Game 2 clash at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
However, the two-time Best Middle Blocker in the SV.League is also considering a return to Japan if things don’t work out in Europe.
She explained that in Europe, the middle blocker position is often the least prioritized for imports due to the abundance of tall players.
(C) SV League
“Yun nga, kung hindi man ako palarin sa Europe kasi ang pinapriority nila doon ay outside spiker, opposite, setter, and libero. Last talaga ang middle kasi marami silang matatangkad din. So if ever na hindi ako makakuha ng opportunity sa Europe, I’ll go back to Japan and maybe that’s my last playing year,” said the Tanza, Cavite native.
It was a storybook ending for Santiago, who is known as Sachi Minowa in Japan, as she finally captured the championship just last May 3.
In the 2023-24 season, heartbreak was the story for Osaka Marvelous and Santiago. Despite an undefeated run to the finals, they lost in the gold medal game to the NEC Red Rockets.
In their championship season, however, they finished as the top seed with a 37-7 record and worked their way to the pinnacle, dethroning the Red Rockets.
“Very overwhelmed and grateful na sa seven years sa Japan, that was my first championship with JT Marvelous. Sobrang happy kasi last year was very sad na lahat ng games namin naipanalo namin and then the championship game ayun nga natalo kami,” Santiago said.
“This time, we didn’t have any expectations kasi nga ang dami rin naming talo, and we’re really happy na until the end we did our best and got the championship.”
#WATCH: After an impressive campaign in Japan, SV.League champion Jaja Santiago is setting her sights on Europe for her next big move 🏐
📹 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/phQE4D19gp
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 14, 2025
