Jaja Santiago and Saitama avoided another meltdown, escaping Denso in a thriller, 25-27, 25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 16-14, in the 2021-22 V. League Division 1 women’s tournament, Sunday at the Saitama Prefectural Budokan.
The 6-foot-5 Filipina import, also the reigning Premier Volleyball League Most Valuable Player, asserted her status as one of the best blockers in the league. She collected seven blocks in the win, alongside 16 spikes and a service ace, to end with 24 points.
After failing to finish off Hitachi yesterday, a collapse almost happened anew today.
But the Ageo Medics, trailing 9-13 in the fifth set, unleashed a 6-1 closing blast. They took their 11th win in 18 matches for sixth place.
Brazilian Lorenne Teixeira led the Ageo Medics with 28 points on 25 attacks and three blocks herself.
Their squad amassed 16 blocks.
Yuka Sato added 12 points. Meanwhile, Mami Uchiseto and Kyoko Aoyagi made the same statline of seven attacks, two blocks, and an ace for 10 points apiece.
Yuki Hyodo and Minami Nakamoto paced the Airybees with 17 points each. Import Roslandy Acosta played limited minutes with just six points.
Denso slid to 13-7, just ahead of Saitama.
Ageo Medics has a weekday game on Wednesday when they meet fourth-ranked NEC, 11:00 AM (Manila time), at the same venue.
