JAJA Santiago's return to Philippine volleyball has finally found its place in the timeline.
Creamline confirmed that the former PVL MVP, now known as Sachi Minowa, will roin the team for the 2026 Invitational Conference before leaving for her already announced stint with League One Volleyball (LOVB) expansion club San Francisco Signal in the United States.
READ: This NBA champion coach co-owns Jaja's new US club team
The announcement finally confirms where Santiago's long-awaited PVL comeback fits into the next phase of her career, once hinted by SPIN.ph, with the 11-time champions serving as the decorated middle blocker's last stop before her North American debut.
A different homecoming
Ironically, the last time she appeared in the PVL, she was celebrating at Creamline's expense.
Santiago starred for Chery Tiggo in the league's inaugural professional tournament during the 2021 Open Conference in Bacarra, leading the Crossovers to the historic maiden pro championship after defeating the Cool Smashers in the finals.
She capped that memorable campaign by claiming the Conference MVP award before returning to Japan, where she spent the next five years developing into one of the SV.League's premier middle blockers.
Across successful stints with Saitama Ageo Medics, Osaka Marvelous and Denso Airybees, Santiago built one of the most accomplished overseas careers by a Filipino volleyball player.
Now, Santiago will be chasing another title with the same franchise she once denied.
The stop in Creamline offers her a fitting bridge between two milestones in her career, from the player who delivered the PVL's first professional championship to one preparing to help launch a new franchise in American volleyball.
While the partnership may only be a brief one, but it gives the Cool Smashers a former league MVP at the height of her powers and gives Santiago one more chance to compete in front of Filipino fans before continuing her career on another global stage.
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