FIVE years after her last PVL game, Jaja Santiago-Minowa is back.
And she returned with a win.
Santiago-Minowa made her long-awaited PVL comeback as Creamline swept Galeries Tower, 25-21, 25-16, 25-21, on Saturday to close the 2026 PVL On Tour unbeaten in Victorias City.
READ: These are what Jaja plans to bring to the table for Creamline
Her last PVL appearance came in the 2021 Open Conference finals, when she led Chery Tiggo past Creamline for her first league title.
Half a decade later, Santiago-Minowa was on the other side of the net in pink, making her second appearance for the Cool Smashers after playing in their win over Choco Mucho in the Rebisco Sisterhood Showdown in Cagayan de Oro earlier this week.
Creamline finished the preseason tour 2-0 with P200,000 in prize money after also beating Nxled in four sets in Ilagan, and now turns its attention to the PVL Invitational, where it opens its title chase against the Chameleons on Aug. 31 as it shoots for its 12th PVL crown and third Invitational title.
Galeries Tower, meanwhile, ends the preseason caravan at 1-2 with P150,000 in prize money after beating Farm Fresh in Batangas before losing to Nxled in Polomolok.
Keeping it cool
The match looked straightforward through the first two sets, with Creamline fielding a decorated starting six featuring three league MVPs in Alyssa Valdez, Santiago-Minowa and Tots Carlos, alongside multi-awarded players in Pangs Panaga, Kyle Negrito and Kyla Atienza.
Valdez led all scorers with 10 points on eight attacks and two blocks, while Santiago-Minowa added six attack points in her PVL return. Another former MVP in Jema Galanza chipped in seven points and 11 digs.
Galeries Tower, led by Jean Asis’ nine points, nearly stole the third set after leading for most of the frame. But after a 19-all deadlock, Creamline pulled away, with Panaga sealing the win with a running attack.
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