Jaja Santiago

Alyja Daphne "Jaja" Antonio Santiago (born January 20, 1996[1]) is a Filipino volleyball player who plays for JT Marvelous of Japan's V.League.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Antonio and the surname or paternal family name is Santiago.
Jaja Santiago
Personal information
Full nameAlyja Daphne Antonio Santiago
NicknameJaja
NationalityFilipino
Born (1996-01-20) January 20, 1996
Cavite, Philippines
HometownTanza, Cavite
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb)
Spike312 cm (123 in)
Block300 cm (118 in)
College / UniversityNational University
Volleyball information
PositionMiddle blocker
Current clubJT Marvelous
Career
YearsTeams
2014–2015PLDT Home Ultera
2015–2018Foton Tornadoes
2018–2019Saitama Ageo Medics
2019Foton Tornadoes
2019–2021Saitama Ageo Medics
2021Chery Tiggo
2022–2023Saitama Ageo Medics
2023–JT Marvelous
National team
2014–2022Philippines

Career

College

Santiago, then an incoming freshman student entering the National University (NU) in Manila, received an offer to try out for the University of California-Los Angeles' women's volleyball team in 2013. She declined as she was hesitant to be away from her family back in the Philippines.[2] She would go on to play for the NU Lady Bulldogs volleyball team in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Santiago would also lead the Bulldogs to win back-to-back championships in the Shakey's V-League 13th Season Collegiate Conference without her sister Dindin to support her, despite that, she was crowned as the Conference Most Valuable Player award and the Best Middle Blocker. She was also crowned as the Most Valuable Player in the 2016 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix in a back-to-back win with the Foton Tornadoes.

She started her rookie collegiate volleyball career with the UST Golden Tigresses, with her sister Dindin before transferring to National University to follow her sister. After being transferred from UST to the NU Lady Bulldogs, Santiago, now in her 4th year, served as the team captain. She was undecided if she was going to use her fifth and final year, after being eliminated by the UST Golden Tigresses in the UAAP Season 79 Women's Volleyball.[3]

She holds the record of the youngest player to ever play in Shakey's V-League. She joined NU as Guest Player in Season 7 Conference 2 at the age of 14.[4] She also holds the record of the tallest player so far in the Shakey's V-League as she stands 6'5".[5]

Foton Tornadoes (2015–2018)

Her first professional team, the Foton Tornadoes, debuted in the 2015 Grand Prix Conference of the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) and played for 3 conferences (2015 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix, 2016 Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino and 2016 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix).[6]

In 2017, Santiago won the Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Collegiate Conference championship with the NU Lady Bulldogs and was named the conference MVP.[7][8] Also winning the bronze medal in the PSL Grand Prix Conference with the Foton Tornadoes along with the 1st Best Opposite Spiker award.[9][10]

PSL All Stars

Santiago was part of the PSL All Stars selection team formed to represent the hosts of the 2016 FIVB Club World Championship which was held in Manila.[11]

Ageo Medics (2018–2019)

Santiago joined Ageo Medics of Japan's V.League in 2018 for the 2018–19 season.[12][13][14]

Santiago playing for Ageo Medics.

Foton Tornadoes (2019)

Santiago returned the Philippines to feature for the Foton Tornadoes in the 2019 PSL All-Filipino Conference.[15] Following the conclusion of the tournament, she returned to Japan to play for Ageo Medics again.

Ageo Medics (2019–2021)

Santiago helped Ageo Medics clinch a bronze medal finish in the 2019–20 Division 1.[16]

Santiago renewed her contract with Ageo Medics in August 2020[17] She went on to help Ageo Medics win the Division 1 V.Cup title, which was the first for Santiago with a foreign club.[16] after she was unable to rejoin Foton, which renamed themselves as Chery Tigo, for the 2020 PSL Grand Prix which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18][17]

Shortly after, Santiago bared that Ageo Medics has convinced her to change her citizenship to Japanese through naturalization which would enable the club to field her as a local. However, Santiago was non-committal and maintained that she still has pride in being a Filipino citizen.[19]

Chery Tiggo

Her contract with Ageo Medics expired after her 2021 V.Cup stint.[20] Santiago returned to the Philippines to play for the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Crossovers, which has transferred from the PSL to the newly fully-professionalized Premier Volleyball League (PVL).[21] She rejected offer to play for a club in Taiwan so she could play for Chery in the PVL.[22]

Ageo Medics (2022–2023)

Santiago returned once again to Japan to suit up for Ageo Medics for the 2022–23 V.League season.[23] However in May 2023, she announced that she had not re-signed with the team ending her roughly five year series of stints with Ageo Medics.[24]

JT Marvelous (2023–)

Santiago remains in Japan as she signs to play for JT Marvelous for the 2023–24 season.[25]

National team

Santiago was also a member of the Philippine national team that played in Singapore during the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, as well as in Kuala Lumpur during the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.[26] She last played for the national team in 2022 at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games, which was held in Vietnam.[27]

Personal life

Santiago comes from a family of sportspeople. Her father Jojo was a basketballer who played for the University of Manila Hawks and the San Juan Knights in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association. Her older sister Dindin Santiago-Manabat also grew up to be a professional volleyball player. Her older brother Axel has coached the National University (NU) Bulldogs volleyball teams.[28] Her younger brother Lenard played basketball for the Letran Squires junior team.[29] Her father died in 2014.[30] Their mother worked as an Overseas Filipino Worker in Israel.[28]

She obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2020 at NU, two years after her stint in the UAAP.[31]

Santiago is married with Japanese coach Taka Minowa of Ageo Medics since August 2022.[32][33] She previously had Chery teammate Maika Ortiz as her girlfriend.[34] Santiago announced that they had ended their relationship on July 2022.[35]

In January 2023 reportedly also began the process of acquiring Japanese citizenship for herself.[27] However, she clarified that nothing is certain and is considering opportunities outside of Japan.[36] She has received an offer from her club Ageo Medics to help her acquire Japanese citizenship as early as April 2021, which would make her eligible to play for the Japanese national team.[37][38]

Clubs

Awards

Individuals

Clubs

Special Recognition

References
  1. "UAAP 77 Athlete of the Day: Jaja Santiago". ABS-CBN Sports. ABS-CBN Corporation. December 29, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  2. Lozada, Mei-Lin (January 3, 2018). "What if Jaja Santiago accepted UCLA offer back in 2013? Top coaches weigh in". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  3. Lozada, Mei-Lin (April 10, 2017). "Frustrated Jaja Santiago uncertain on playing final season with NU Lady Bulldogs". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  4. Noguera, Al Kendrick (August 5, 2014). "GIVE ME FIVE featuring Jaja Santiago of NU Lady Bulldogs". GMA Network. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  5. Bracher, Jane. "Jaja Santiago confident in leadership role with NU Lady Bulldogs". Rappler. No. February 8, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  6. Escarlote, Mark. "Volleyball: Foton claims repeat Grand Prix title". ABS-CBN News. No. December 10, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  7. Escarlote, Mark (October 14, 2017). "SWEEP VICTORY: NU claims PVL Collegiate Conference title". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  8. Escarlote, Mark (October 14, 2017). "Santiago named PVL Collegiate Conference MVP". ABS-CBN Sports. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  9. Giongco, Mark (December 12, 2017). "Foton grabs bronze medal in PSL Grand Prix". The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  10. Lozada, Bong (December 16, 2017). "Double celebration for F2 import Perez with MVP award and PSL title". The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  11. "PSL's 'Magnificent 7' represents the future of PH volleyball". Tiebreaker Times. August 2, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  12. "Santiago sisters to see action in Japan V.Premier League". Fox Sports Asia. Archived from the original (20 September 2018) on September 21, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  13. "Jaja Santiago is top spiker in Japanese V-League Star Conference". Fox Sports Asia. January 6, 2020. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  14. "Jaja Santiago powers Japanese squad to semis stint". Philippine Daily Inquirer. January 20, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  15. Bautista, Ohmer (August 13, 2019). "Santiago sisters give Eya Laure triumphant Foton debut, pound short-handed Marinerang Pilipina". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  16. Valencia, Justin (March 28, 2021). "Jaja Santiago strikes gold as Ageo Medics rule V.League V Cup". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  17. "Jaja Santiago signs new contract with Japan's Ageo Medics". Philippine Daily Inquirer. August 22, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  18. "PSL Grand Prix: Examining Chery Tiggo and Generika-Ayala". ESPN.com. February 26, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  19. Li, Matthew (April 4, 2021). "Jaja Santiago bares Ageo wants her to turn local, but: 'May pride pa rin naman ako'" [Jaja Santiago bares Ageo wants her to turn local, but: 'I still have (Filipino) pride']. Tiebreaker Times (in English and Tagalog). Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  20. Lozada, Bong (April 4, 2021). "She could already be the country's best player, but Jaja Santiago doesn't care about individual accolades". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  21. Li, Matthew (April 2, 2021). "Jaja Santiago eager to bring V.League experience to Chery in PVL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  22. Co, Chris (April 4, 2021). "Jaja Santiago inayawan ang offer sa Taiwan". The Philippine Star (in Tagalog). Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  23. "V.League: Jaja, Saitama make quick work of NEC". ABS-CBN News. October 29, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  24. Valencia, Justin (May 13, 2023). "Jaja Santiago parts ways with Saitama after five years". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  25. Valencia, Justin (June 28, 2023). "Jaja Santiago signs with JT Marvelous". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  26. Reyes, Mark Anthony (August 27, 2017). "Philippines falls to Vietnam in bronze medal match". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  27. "Jaja Santiago out of national team with Japanese citizenship in sight". Manila Bulletin. January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  28. Olivares, Rick (November 17, 2013). "Dindin and Jaja Santiago's twin dreams". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  29. Leongson, Randolph (July 11, 2019). "Dindin and Jaja's little brother Lenard is a two-sport athlete at Letran". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  30. "Volleyball: Jaja Santiago recalls emotional moment with late dad". ABS-CBN News. April 13, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  31. Agcaoli, Lance (March 14, 2020). "Perseverance pays off as Jaja Santiago earns bachelor's degree". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  32. "It's a yes! Jaja Santiago engaged to Japanese coach". ABS-CBN News. August 27, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  33. "Is Jaja Santiago already married to Japanese coach fiance?". ABS-CBN News. November 25, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  34. "Jaja Santiago lauds girlfriend Maika Ortiz's comeback". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. August 17, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  35. "Jaja, Maika naghiwalay". Abante (in Filipino). July 31, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  36. Micaller, Bea (January 30, 2023). "Amid reports of Japanese citizenship, volleyball star Jaja Santiago says nothing certain yet". GMA News Online. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  37. Antonio, Kyle John (April 4, 2021). "PH volleyball star Jaja Santiago receives offer to change nationality". CNN Philippines. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  38. Giongco, Mark (April 6, 2021). "Jaja Santiago offered to change nationality to Japanese". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
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