Jaja Santiago continues stellar outing in Japan volleyball league

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipina volleyball sensation Jaja Santiago hasn’t lost a step despite a month of volleyball lay-off and continued to be a force for Saitama as their Asian import.

After a nail-biting five-setter game in their last outing, Santiago and her team dispatched Okayama in just three straight sets, 25-16, 25-15, 25-22, in the 2021-22 Japan V. League Division 1 women’s tournament.

Fresh off a 2021 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) title with the Cherry Tiggo Pro Crossovers, Santiago is looking to clinch her second title in a row.

The six-foot-five middle blocker gave Okayama tons of problems as she filled the stat sheet with two blocks, two service aces, and ten total points.

It was smooth-sailing for Saitama in the first two sets but Okayama attempted to clinch one set when they got within striking distance and eventually took the lead when they converted on their offensive attacks, 22-20.

However, Saitama countered with a momentum-shifting 5-0 run that wasted Okayama’s efforts to seal the three-set win.

Santiago and Saitama will be preparing for a tougher battle as they are set to face defending champions JT Marvelous on October 23 at the Higashiyama Gymnasium in Kyoto.