MANILA, Philippines — Creamline’s prized acquisition Jaja Santiago fired from all angles against Thailand’s EST Cola in an attempt to allow her team secure a finals spot in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational—but it was not enough.
The 6-foot-5 middle-blocker finished with 19 points in a tight four-set loss over the Thais, 17-25, 25-21, 25-22, 27-25, on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.
As Creamline's three-game winning streak was snapped by EST Cola, Santiago bared that fatigue was also a factor, given that it’s a short tournament.
“I think the fatigue is real—how you can recover, how you will make the most of limited time like this to prepare right away for the next game. When it comes to skills, everyone has it,” she told the media after the loss.
“With Creamline, how many years they've been playing together, I'm the only new one. But even then, we rely on instinct. It's really just, of course, the exhaustion and also the preparation.”
Santiago anchored the Cool Smashers in their first three victories in the Invitational Conference after a consistent double-digit outing of 19 points against Nxled, 12 points against Ho Chi Minh City, and 17 points in a win over Farm Fresh Foxies.
With high double-digit scoring for a middle-blocker, Santiago also highlighted that she further needs to gel with the team to prevail in a must-win clash over the defending champions PLDT High Speed Hitters on Sunday.
“I think it's more on one point at a time, one set at a time. Everyone is really preparing. Everyone wants to win. It's just I think how you will overcome the pressure, how you will stand out and play harder, and the willingness to win,” she emphasized on the team’s eagerness.
“Everyone is tired already, but it's really a test of endurance until the end,” she added.
The former Japan import further added that Creamline’s loss over the young EST Cola squad also highlighted the volleyball program of the Southeast Asian neighbor.
“Actually, it's incredible because some of them—I actually know this. I know they are the next ones. They had a training camp in Japan with Osaka Marvelous, my team from two years ago. They are under 18 and their improvement is really incredible.”
“As I said, especially their outside hitters and opposite, they are truly powerful. So it's amazing that 20-year-old players are showing that kind of performance.”
