Jaja Santiago makes Creamline even more formidable

Jaja Santiago will no longer be Creamline’s problem. —PVL IMAGES

The last time Jaja Santiago played in the Premier Volleyball League, the towering middle blocker was nearly unstoppable.

Santiago emerged as Conference and Finals MVP and tormented Creamline in an epic Game 3 as Chery Tiggo became the league’s first professional champion inside the Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, bubble in 2021.

Five years later, Santiago is returning to the PVL—and this time, she will be wearing Creamline colors.

The longtime Japan SV.League player, who is headed to the United States to play for San Francisco Signal in League One Volleyball (LOVB), will reinforce the Cool Smashers for a limited stint in the PVL Invitational Conference.

For Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses, that means one less towering problem to solve.

“Thank you, Jaja. That’s all I can say!” Meneses told the Inquirer in Filipino, laughing.

Meneses was an assistant to Tai Bundit when Santiago helped Chery Tiggo dethrone Creamline in 2021. Now the league’s most successful coach with eight championships, Meneses finally gets the 6-foot-5 Filipino international on his side.

“Jaja is already at a very high level, so we don’t have to worry about her height anymore because she’s on our side now.”

Santiago’s arrival naturally raises expectations, pairing arguably the country’s top homegrown volleyball talent with the PVL’s most successful club.

“Of course, the expectations are high, especially knowing that Jaja is now playing with Creamline. Everyone is really excited to see what we can do together,” Meneses said.

“For now, we’re really working on integrating Jaja into the Creamline system and making sure she understands how we play,” he added. “She’ll definitely be a big help to our team. Her skills and experience will be very valuable. Hopefully, even in a short amount of time, we can build better chemistry both on and off the court.”

A two-time Japan SV.League Best Blocker who won a championship with Osaka Marvelous in the 2024-’25 season, Santiago strengthens an already loaded Creamline roster bannered by Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, Kyle Negrito and Kyla Atienza.

She is also expected to form one of the league’s most formidable frontlines alongside Pangs Panaga and Bea De Leon. INQ