MANILA, Philippines — Posibleng hindi na masilayan si Jaja Santiago suot ang jersey ng Japan women’s national volleyball team.
Ipinaliwanag ni Philippine National Volleyball Federation president at Asian Volleyball Confederation chief Tats Suzara ang dahilan kung saan tinukoy nito ang ilang pagbabago sa FIVB rules.
Kabilang na rito ang paglalaro ni Santiago sa Phl national volleyball team sa loob ng walong taon.
Ayon sa FIVB rule, hindi na maaari pang maglaro para sa ibang national team ang isang player na nakapaglaro na sa national team ng kanyang orihinal na bansa.
Matatandaang nakuha na ni Santiago ang Japanese citizenship nito noong Agosto kung saan may Japanese name pa itong Sachi Minowa.
“Jaja is now a Japanese citizen. She is married. But there was a new rule last year by FIVB that if you played in the national team of another country, you can’t transfer federations anymore,” ani Suzara.
Suportado ni Suzara ang desisyon ni Santiago na lumipat ng federation.
“Kung hindi naglaro si Jaja sa (Philippine) national team, she can change federations. Madali yun. But since she played, by the record ng FIVB, she cannot change federations anymore,” ani Suzara.