With the 2023-24 season of the V.League officially over, there are speculations about whether Jaja Santiago and Jia De Guzman could return and play for their mother teams in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo set the record straight on Thursday.
According to Malonzo, Santiago, if she chooses to return, is eligible to suit up for Chery Tiggo.
The Crossovers included her in their 17-man lineup for the Open Conference, just as they have done in the previous conferences.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for De Guzman as she was not part of the 19-man roster that the Cool Smashers submitted.
Teams can include 20 players in their rosters per conference, with only 14 eligible to play per game day.
“Bale si Jaja (Santiago), I saw her in the lineup of Chery Tiggo. If she arrives, she can play. But in the case of Jia De Guzman, I didn’t see her name. We already ended our registration nung before pa mag-start,” Malonzo told members of the press.
“I think na-overlook yun sa side ng Creamline, ‘di nila nakita na wala yung pangalan ni Jia. Sadly, hindi makakalaro si Jia this conference. Every conference naman we submit different lineups kung ano yung gagamitin nila,” Malonzo continued.
He went on, “Yung 20 slots na yun kasi must be filled up or rather before the start of the tournament, you need to submit your lineup kasi. Your team composition, maximum of 20 players.
“Of the 20 players, each match you will assign the 14 who will play. So in the case of Jaja, she’s a part of the 20. Jia is not. So yun yung problems.”
Santiago last played in the PVL during the 2021 Open Conference where she led Chery Tiggo to the title.
She is coming off a silver medal finish with JT Marvelous in the V. League.
Meanwhile, De Guzman and the Denso Airybees finished fifth overall.
