ABLE to choose which team to play while waiting for her pro volleyball stint in the United States to begin, Jaja Santiago decided to suit up for the Creamline Cool Smashers in her return to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
Michele Gumabao revealed on her official Facebook page that the 6-foot-5 gunner signed with the 11-time PVL champions.
“Since we’re all wanting to break the news first (Since naguunahan na lang din tayo). Welcome to the team, Jaja,” Gumabao wrote on her account on Friday afternoon.
The official Creamline Facebook account later verified this development and welcomed Santiago to the team.
“Our newest Cool Smasher is ready to bring towering plays and unstoppable good vibes to the PVL Invitational Conference!” The franchise announced on social media.
Santiago, also known as Sachi Minowa in the Japanese volleyball scene, will play in the PVL for the first time in five years after she helped the Chery Tiggo franchise to earn a title in 2021, where she also took the Best Middle Blocker and Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum.
She has officially signed with League One Volleyball (LOVB) in the United States, adding another impressive chapter to her international volleyball career.
The LOVB is set to start in January 2027.
Santiago has previously expressed the possibility of playing in the PVL as she has a long gap before the LOVB begins.
“I need to stay active since the league won’t start until January. I’ll be flying to the US in November, so there’s a huge time gap. I need to make sure I’m in shape by the time I arrive,” she told the media last July.
Santiago moved to Japan in 2018 and was ranked as a top player globally, and won her SV League title with Osaka Marvelous in 2024.
During her stint with the Japan League, she earned the Best Blocker (2021-2022), Best Middle Blocker (2022-2023), and Best Spiker (2023-2024) awards.
Santiago is set to bolster the lineup of Creamline’s veterans composed of Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, and Gumabao.
