Jaja Santiago has been dominant in every game of the PSL All-Filipino Cup — except when it mattered the most.
The Foton Tornadoes’ ace and team captain was hushed on the court by a determined Petron Blaze Spikers side. In four sets, Santiago only had 16 points on 42 attack attempts, a far cry from her usual 20-point outputs.
By the final set, the 6-foot-5 spiker was reeling as she surrendered four attack errors in the set alone.
“Wala po akong masasabi, pasensiya na po,” the 21-year-old told reporters Thursday night as she begged off interviews.
The loss was frustrating for the entire Foton franchise. After making the past three Finals of the PSL’s major conferences, the Tornadoes now have to settle for a spot outside the Finals.
Santiago’s herculean performances kept the rebuilding Tornadoes in contention this conference. After losing to Petron, however, it’s clear that the Tornadoes need more than Santiago if they hope to capture a third straight Grand Prix title come October.
