FORMER Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Most Valuable Player Alyja Daphne “Jaja” Santiago is making her long-awaited return to Philippine volleyball after signing a short-term deal with Creamline Cool Smashers.
Santiago, who now competes under the name Sachi Minowa following her acquisition of Japanese citizenship in 2024, will reinforce the Cool Smashers before leaving to join San Francisco in the League One Volleyball (LOVB) Pro in the United States.
The 30-year-old middle blocker has not played in the local league since 2021, when she powered the defunct Chery Tiggo Crossovers to the PVL’s first professional championship.
The former National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs star was also recognized as the league’s inaugural Most Valuable Player in the professional era after leading the Crossovers’ title run.
Her stint with Creamline will also reunite her with team captain Alyssa Valdez.
The two previously played together during their high school years at the University of Santo Tomas and later became teammates with PLDT in the Shakey’s V-League.
Santiago’s arrival bolsters an already formidable Creamline squad in the ongoing On Tour conference.
