Sports

Jaja Santiago still with Chery Tiggo but availability remains uncertain


Chery Tiggo's star, Jaja Santiago, wins more accolades on the PVL title.

FILE – Jaja Santiago by Chery Tiggo. PVL MEDIA

MANILA, Philippines – Jaja Santiago remains part of Chery Tiggo’s squad for the All-Filipino Games of the 2023 Volleyball Premier League but her availability depends on the fate of Saitama Ageo Medics in the V.League Japan.

Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez revealed that the 6-foot-5 center-back is still listed for the first conference and could be out once she completes the 2022-23 V.League.

“She is still in our squad. We talked about how if her schedule fits and if her time in the V.League ends soon then she can play for us,” Velez said in Filipino.

The V-League’s regular season will end on March 26 with the Finals set to take place in April. Ageo Medics is currently in fifth place with a 11-5 record.

On the other hand, PVL All-Filipino will compete in the knockout stages from February 4 to March 16 with the semi-finals starting on March 18, while the Grand Final of the three is scheduled for March March 25, 29 and, if necessary, March 30.

National University featured players can play in the Invitationals, the league’s second congress held in June during the V.League season. The Boost Conference is scheduled to be scheduled for October but if Santiago returns to Japan, she will not be available for Chery Tiggo as the 2023-2024 season in Japan will open the same month.

“If Jaja comes, she will be a great plus for our team. We will have a formidable foundation and anchor,” Velez said.

Velez is downplaying the team’s expectations of Santiago’s potential return as he aims to use only the team composition they have right now—something they were unable to do during last year’s Open Conference, where HD Spikers were. ‘ finished in eighth place.

“Debut from 2022 [Open Conference], we expect that she will play for us. So I think it’s a thing that we have to [temper] our expectations,” he said.

Velez will continue to rely on his vastly improved midfield stoppers Cza Carandang and Roselle Baliton as well as rookie Seth Rodriguez from Petro Gazz, while Mylene Paat will take the helm as the captain and scorer.

Santiago didn’t play for the Crossovers last season, following a dominating 2021 PVL bubble campaign in Ilocos Norte, where she won the MVP of the conference and Finals, while also leading her team to the professional championship. first career.

The only time she spent in the Philippines was when the women’s national volleyball team finished in 4th place at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Jaja’s sister, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, has split from Chery Tiggo after six years, looking for a fresh start with Akari this season.

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