JAJA Santiago-Minowa came to Creamline with one clear mission: help the 11-time champions chase another PVL crown.
Instead, her brief return to the league will end with the Cool Smashers fighting for bronze.
Back-to-back losses to EST Cola and PLDT knocked Creamline out of the 2026 PVL Invitational championship race and into a rematch with the High Speed Hitters for third place, leaving Santiago-Minowa to rue what she felt she could not deliver in her short stint with the franchise.
READ PLDT win derails Creamline, sends Nxled to first-ever PVL finals
“We are really aiming sa championship and I'm really sad and I really feel bad sa sarili ko na hindi ko nabigay sa kanila ‘yun in the short span na nandito ako sa kanila naglalaro,” said Santiago-Minowa.
The former national team star admitted that Creamline was done in by the demanding schedule, given the short preparation time between games that makes it difficult to fully adjust to each opponent.
“Tough loss talaga. Lahat naman siguro binigay ‘yung best. Sadyang kinulang lang talaga sa dulo. In the short preparation for every team na nakakalaban natin, we are really, I think, kulang,” she admitted.
Still, Santiago-Minowa has one more chance to leave Creamline with something before her stint comes to an end.
And for the veteran middle blocker, a podium finish would be a fitting parting gift.
“But I'm gonna work hard, harder sa Tuesday no matter what happens and at least [go for] the podium finish,” she said. “Kahit anong mangyari, ‘pag nanalo kami, we will get the medal. It's still the same. It's not the gold but still, a win is a win.”
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