VOLLEYBALL star Jaja Santiago has dismissed reports that top Turkish club team Galatasaray is interested in recruiting her, saying it's nothing more than a rumor.
Published reports claim Turkish scouts saw Santiago in action during the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship in Manila last year and made the approach to tap her as a guest player for the Turkish Women’s Volleyball League next season.
The 6-foot-5 Santiago made the denial through her elder sister, Foton team manager Diane Santiago.
"No, it’s not true, it’s just a rumor," Diane said.
"While being rumored to be scouted by a Turkish team is very flattering, Jaja is dismissing these reports as plain rumor. It’s not true. Nobody's calling us."
[See Jaja Santiago pulls off one-handed dunk in viral video]
The Foton star said her main focus will be for now is their campaign in the coming Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference on May 20.
"Jaja is very committed (to Foton) and I think she will not accept any international offer this year.”
The elder Santiago also clarified that a player agent from Turkey approached Jaja during Club World Championship last year, but made it clear the agent wasn't in any way connected with Galatasaray.
Even before Santiago's denial, a board member of Turkish sports club Galatasaray already quashed reports that its volleyball division is eyeing Santiago for its stint in the domestic league.
“GS Sports Club has more than 1100 licensed players in all the branches of sport and we cannot deny all the transfer rumours. l'm denying and this must be enough. This is 100 % correct news,” Galatasaray board member Ali Yuce was quoted as saying by worldofvolley.com.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
