MADDIE Madayag and Jaja Santiago — now Sachi Minowa — are set to leave their respective Japan SV.League clubs at the end of the 2024-25 season.
The 27-year-old middle blocker and former Ateneo captain signed off on her first international stint with the Kurobe Aqua Fairies.
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From a team standpoint, Madayag’s overseas career was underwhelming as Kurobe finished 11th out of 12 teams in the preliminary round with a 15-29 record.
She’d pen her parting note to the team that gave the Choco Mucho ace her first break in the Land of the Rising Sun where she was able to don ‘a different shade of blue’ than the one she grew up with as a Blue Eagle.
“And that's a wrap! Thank you @kurobeaquafairies for the chance to live out one of my dreams,” Madayag wrote.
“Although a different shade, it's been a pleasure donning a blue jersey once again. Peace out, #19.”
After going undrafted in the 2025 Korean Volleyball League (KOVO) Asian Quota Draft, either a PVL return or another tour of duty overseas are on the cards for Madayag.
Last ‘Marvelous’ dance for Jaja
Roughly two years to the day she made the move to JT Marvelous, now known as Osaka Marvelous, Minowa’s time with the Japanese powerhouse club will soon come to an end.
Osaka announced the 29-year-old power hitter’s impending exit at the end of their ongoing playoff run.
With a few games left in their title chase, Minowa, wife of Akari head coach Taka Minowa, looks to make the most of her last dance with gold in her sights.
“As I finish my last season with Osaka Marvelous, I want to thank you all for your amazing support over the past two years. Saying goodbye will be hard because this team has taught me so much and given me many happy moments,” she said.
“Let’s make this final season special, and please keep supporting us until the end!"
A former league-leading spiker and blocker, Minowa was part of last year’s silver-winning team that won all but its knockout title game to perennial Japanese champions NEC Red Rockets.
This year, Marvelous copped the regular season championship again with a 37-7 card and will begin playoff action in the quarterfinal round against No. 8 seed Astemo Rivale Ibaraki.
Once the season comes to an end, all eyes are on Minowa’s next move — whether still in the international scene or a possible PVL homecoming after almost half a decade since leading Chery Tiggo to its maiden league title in 2021.
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