Negros to witness Jaja’s return?

MANILA, Philippines — Sachi Minowa, better known to Filipino fans as Jaja Santiago, will have a chance to make her Premier Volleyball League return after more than five years when Creamline clashes with Galeries Tower today in the final leg of the PVL on Tour at the Victorias City Coliseum in Negros Occidental.

Minowa said she is excited to play, but her appearance will depend on Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses.

If she gets the green light for the 6:30 p.m. match against the Highrisers, it will be her first official PVL appearance since Aug. 31, 2021, when she led the now-defunct Chery Tiggo to a Game 3, title-clinching win over Creamline in the league’s inaugural conference in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.

She already suited up for the 11-time PVL champions in an exhibition five-set win over sister team Choco Mucho in Cagayan de Oro last Sunday, but that was not an official outing.

This one is. If she doesn’t play today, Minowa is expected to officially debut for the franchise in the PVL Invitational Conference which opens on Aug. 31.

It will be a one-conference deal for Minowa, who is set to fly to the United States after to play for a club there.

The Cool Smashers, the league’s winningest and most popular club, look to close the provincial swing on a high following a win over Nxled in Isabela.