VICTORIAS, Negros Occidental — Volleyball fans made sure Jaja Santiago knew just how much they’ve missed her in the Philippines.

And the 6-foot-5 tower, in return, granted as many selfies, autographs, and photos as she could after her first game back in the country in five years — this time with Creamline.

It was a triumphant homecoming for Santiago, who helped the Cool Smashers sweep the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 25-21, 25-16, 25-21, in front of a massive, roaring crowd that trooped to the Victorias City Coliseum here on Saturday for a successful conclusion to the 2026 PVL On Tour Showdown.

Santiago definitely missed the wild Filipino crowd, as her last stint in the country in 2021 with Chery Tiggo happened in a bubble setup during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Santiago led the then-Chery Tiggo Crossovers to the PVL’s first professional championship in the Bacarra, Ilocos Norte bubble, defeating her current team, the Cool Smashers, in three games in the Finals.

“Sobrang nakaka-proud na ang daming nanonood sa atin ngayon. Despite na anong oras na rin, nandito sila, todo suporta, and yung effort talaga is there. Sobrang grateful namin na — alam mo yun, yung volleyball dito sa atin sa Philippines is really growing,” said Santiago, who also carries the Japanese name Sachi Minowa.

“And sa loob kasi ng court, kung maririnig ko yung gantong cheer, madadala ka eh. Sila yung parang nagbibigay din sa’yo ng power, ng lakas talaga sa loob ng court. And lagi ko nga sinasabi, itong crowd na ito, itong mga fans na ito, sila rin yung dahilan kung bakit kami nandito,” she continued.

Since her last stint with Chery Tiggo, Santiago has won two Best Middle Blocker awards in the Japan SV.League, Japan’s top-level volleyball tournament.

She spent seven seasons in Japan before taking her talents to the United States’ League One Volleyball (LOVB), which will begin in early 2027, paving the way for her stint with the Cool Smashers in the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference.

Creamline, an early favorite following its signing of Santiago, will go head-to-head with defending champion PLDT, Farm Fresh, Nxled, Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, and Thailand’s EST Cola in the week-long Invitational beginning on August 31. All games will take place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Even after getting her feet wet with the one-game appearance in the province-hopping PVL On Tour, Santiago is still taking extra caution heading into the Invitational.

“Siyempre, iba pa rin sa Invitational kasi may makakalaban din kami na Vietnam, Thailand. Magandang preparation itong On Tour sa amin sa team kasi we still have a lot of adjustments na kailangang ayusin sa team. And we’re not perfect,” she said.

“Sa Invitational, we’re gonna do our very best. Yan lang, magiging tight yung schedule and hoping na maganda yung recovery ng bawat isa every day, every game.”

The post Jaja Santiago feels love from home crowd in first Philippine game in five years appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

VICTORIAS, Negros Occidental — Jaja Santiago-Minowa made a triumphant return to the Premier Volleyball League, helping her new team Creamline sweep Galeries Tower, 25-21, 25-16, 25-21, for a successful end to the 2026 On Tour Showdown on Saturday inside a jampacked Victorias City Coliseum here.

The 6-foot-5 middle blocker last played in the PVL in 2021 during the “Bacarra bubble,” leading the now-defunct Chery Tiggo to the league’s first professional championship.

The Cool Smashers swept their two games in the Tour. They were originally scheduled to face the Capital1 Solar Spikers on August 8 in the Santiago, Isabela leg, but the match was canceled due to Tropical Depression Maymay.

(C) PVL Images

“Siyempre excited kami kasi siyempre Jaja Santiago ’yan. Ang gusto naming mangyari rin talaga maging maganda yung chemistry ng team lalo na parating na ‘yung Invitational, yun yung pinakaimportante kasi yung skills ng team nandiyan na eh,” said Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses.

The Highrisers threatened to extend the match after taking a slim 20-19 lead in the third set, but the Cool Smashers remained calm and composed down the stretch.

Jema Galanza and Kyle Negrito sparked a three-point run to swing the momentum in Creamline’s favor before Bea de Leon, Alyssa Valdez, and Pangs Panaga also connected, fueling a 6-1 finishing run that sealed the victory in 92 minutes.

Valdez led the balanced attack for the Cool Smashers with 10 points, while Galanza added seven points and 11 excellent digs.

Santiago-Minowa, Panaga, and Tots Carlos finished with six points apiece, while Negrito tallied 17 excellent sets and two points.

Creamline will next see action in the Invitational Conference, which starts on August 31. Defending champion PLDT, Farm Fresh, Nxled, Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, and Thailand’s EST Cola will join the Cool Smashers in the week-long tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

(C) PVL Images

Meanwhile, the Highrisers ended their Tour campaign with a 1-2 record, earning a win over the Foxies while losing to the Chameleons.

PVL Draft 2025 second overall pick Jean Asis led Galeries Tower with nine points, while Bacolod native Erika Deloria added six.

The post Jaja Santiago makes triumphant PVL return as Creamline sweeps Galeries Tower appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

VICTORIAS, Negros Occidental — Roma Mae Doromal sees the 2026 PVL On Tour Showdown as an opportunity for the revamped Capital1 to build chemistry ahead of the regular season.

The Solar Spikers’ defensive specialist pointed out how the On Tour Showdown’s all-to-play rule has brought out the best in everyone.

“For us, malaking opportunity rin itong On Tour because everyone gets a chance to play. Nakakatulong iyon para mabuo namin ang chemistry and makita kung nasaan na kami as a team as we prepare for the All-Filipino Conference,” said Doromal on Friday here.

Capital1 is set to have a brighter future in the All-Filipino Conference with Alas Pilipinas stars Bella Belen, Vanie Gandler, and Erika Santos expected to return from national team duty.

With their overhauled roster, Doromal is eyeing a stronger Solar Spikers squad as they seek to surpass their seventh-place finishes in the 2024 and 2025 Reinforced Conferences, their highest placements in franchise history.

“Siyempre super excited kasi ngayon yung team namin, yung dynamic ng team namin more competitive and doon na papasok yung winning mentality ng team. Very excited talaga and super blessed talaga kami na nagkaroon kami ng new players and super looking forward lang din sa mabibring nila sa team,” said Doromal, the 2024 14th overall pick.

Capital1 will face Farm Fresh on Saturday at the Victorias City Coliseum in its final PVL On Tour Showdown match.

Without their national team stars, the Solar Spikers will rely on Shaya Adorador, Ysa Jimenez, Trisha Genesis, Sydney Niegos, and rookies Detdet Pepito and Khy Cepada.

It will be the Solar Spikers’ second game in the Tour after their scheduled match against Creamline on August 8 in Santiago, Isabela, was canceled due to Tropical Depression Maymay.

“Yung team namin ngayon, mas nagfo-focus kami on ourselves kung paano namin ipapakita yung talents ng bawat isa. I think yun talaga yung pinaka need namin iwork on, yung kung ano yung dynamic ng team namin and magiging performance ng team namin,” shared Doromal.

The post Roma Mae Doromal eyes more competitive Capital1 after roster revamp appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.