Jaja Santiago relishes warm welcome in PVL homecoming

Creamline Cool Smashers’ Jaja Santiago during a 2026 PVL on Tour game vs Galeries Tower Highrisers. –PVL PHOTO

VICTORIAS, Negros Occidental — It’s been a while since Jaja Santiago-Minowa experienced this kind of love from the Philippine volleyball community.

The last time Minowa saw action in the Premier Volleyball League, she played in a bubble in front of an empty crowd in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, where she dominated as Open Conference and Finals MVP to deliver Chery Tiggo its maiden pro crown by outlasting Creamline.

READ: PVL: Jaja Santiago cleared as local for Creamline stint

Five years later, Minowa made her homecoming as a member of her former rival, towing Creamline past Galeries Tower, 25-21, 25-16, 25-21, to save the best for last in the PVL On Tour on Saturday night at Victorias City Coliseum here.

“It’s honestly so amazing and something we’re really proud of to see so many people watching and supporting us today,” Minowa told the reporters in Filipino.

“Even though it was already late here, they still stayed up to support us and really made the effort.”

The last time Jaja Santiago-Minowa played in the PVL, she was in a bubble set-up.

She missed interacting with the Philippine volleyball community. #PVLonTour #PVL2026 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/rN0JWq250I

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) August 22, 2026

“We’re so grateful because volleyball in the Philippines is really growing, and we’re so happy to feel that kind of support from everyone,” she added.

Minowa showed flashes of her old form against the young HighRisers, scoring six points on six kills from 13 attempts.

She was also honored to be part of a crowd-favorite team like Creamline, getting a memorable experience before she heads to the US next year to play in League One Volleyball.

“When you’re inside the court and you hear cheers like that, you really get carried away. The fans give you so much energy and strength while you’re playing. I always say that this crowd, these fans, are also one of the reasons why we’re here,” she said.

“We’re really inspired by the effort they make to come watch and support us, and hopefully, through our game, we can inspire them too.”

The 6-foot-5 middle blocker, now a Japanese citizen after years of playing as an SV.League import, shifts her focus to the Invitationals, where Creamline will face defending champion PLDT, Nxled and Farm Fresh, as well as Thailand’s EST Cola and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City.

“It’s honestly overwhelming to be able to play here again in the Philippines,” Minowa said.