In her final UAAP match, Jaja Santiago wasn’t even involved in the ending.
The six-foot-five middle blocker was sitting on the bench as NU’s libero, Gayle Valdez, took her place for back defense purposes. Though — at that point and for much of the UAAP Season 80 Women’s Volleyball Tournament — she was the Lady Bulldogs’ only viable scoring option, Santiago sat and waited for her UAAP career to end.
La Salle dealt the final blow with Audrey Paran running into two Lady Spikers being Santiago’s last memory of her UAAP career.
In many ways, that final point encapsulated Santiago’s stay at NU; she was great, but her teammates could barely support her.
“‘Di ko naman sasabihin na wrong choice siya sa school niya na napuntahan. Siguro lang talagang ‘di lang talaga pinalad, dahil ‘yung team na napuntahan niya, halos wala rin siyang nakatulong kasi.
“Then siguro kulang din ‘yung bawat position na napuntahan niya this year. So siguro kung napunta siya na medyo kumpleto ‘yung team at medyo balanced, baka sakaling pumasok siya sa Finals. Although maganda naman ang pinakita nila noong first round. Kaya lang, medyo hindi ko rin naintindihan kung bakit sumisid sila noong second round,” thought La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus.
Season 76 was when Santiago had the most support. In her rookie season, she was flanked by older sister Dindin, Mina Aganon, Myla Pablo, and a healthy Aiko Urdas. But that NU team struggled with their setter, bowing out to Ateneo in epic fashion in the Final Four.
She made the Final Four in three seasons, but the Lady Bulldogs always fell short in the semis. When they had strong teams in Season 78 and 79, the Lady Bulldogs always found a way to be disappointing.
Santiago had many options other than NU. She could have gone to US NCAA Division 1 program UCLA out of highschool. Before Season 80, she had the option to play for Thai club Bangkok Glass.
But Santiago has zero regrets with any decision she made.
“Sabi nga nila kung ano pinagdesisyunan mo wag kang mag.. kumbaga no regrets kasi ginusto mo ‘yun eh at hindi naman nakasama sa akin,” the 22-year-old shared. “Actually, napabuti kasi na-prepare ako sa mga susunod na opportunities sa akin and pinakita naman sakin ng teammates ko na deserve talaga yung pag stay ko dito sa NU.
“Wala akong pinanghinyangan kasi sabi ko nga ginusto ko naman lahat ng desisyon ko, pinagtrabahuan ko, pinaghirapan ko lahat ng desisyon ko.
“And siguro kung iniwanan ko teammates ko this season then babalik next season mas parang feeling ko pagsisisihan ko kasi konti lang kami ngayon kasi kung iiwan ko pa sila ano yung kakalabasan ng season na,in ngayon kung wala rin ako sa tabi nila,” she added referring to her chance to play in Thailand.
International playing opportunities are still abundant for Santiago. Now she has a chance to play in Korea Volleyball League when she attends a tryout to bw held in Italy in May. She might also play for Foton in the on-going Chooks to Go/Philippine Superliga Grand Prix semifinals.
For all this — the pain, disappointment and short-lived bursts of success — Santiago is a proud Nationalian.
“Sobrang proud ako sa NU kaya ako nag stay sa kanila kasi marami silang pinatunayan sa akin, maraming pinakita sakin na alam kong hindi ko makikita sa iba. Super proud ako sa mga teammates ko kung nasaan man kami ngayon at kung san man sila mapunta lagi akong proud sa kanila.”
