Chery Tiggo expects to see Jaja Santiago rejoin the team this coming Premier Volleyball League season following a one-year absence.
However, her availability will still depend on how far her Japan V.League club Saitama Ageo Medics will reach in the ongoing 2022-23 tournament.
Crossovers head coach Aaron Velez said that Santiago is listed in the club’s lineup for the coming PVL All-Filipino Conference set to begin next week but is doubtful to see action due conflict of schedule.
“She’s still in our lineup. Our understanding is that if her schedule fits, if her stint in the Japan V.League ends early she’ll be able to play for us,” Velez said.
“There’s no finality yet in terms of papers [agreement]. So I think she’s still eligible to play for us.”
But Santiago would miss most of the All-Filipino Conference scheduled to run from 4 February to 30 March, in case the championship series extends to a Game 3.
The ongoing Japan V.League’s regular season will end on 26 March while the semifinals is set April. Santiago’s squad is currently at fifth spot with an 11-5 win-loss record.
If the Ageo Medics miss the playoffs, Santiago’s soonest possible Crossovers return is on 29 March – the Game 2 of the Finals – if Chery Tiggo advances to the championship round.
Santiago can play for Chery Tiggo in the Invitational Conference set in June during the Japan V.League’s offseason. She would then again miss the Reinforced Conference tentatively scheduled in October as it will also be the same month when the V.League opens its new season.
“If Jaja suits up that’s a super plus for us. If she’s here we’ll have a formidable foundation and [team] anchor,” Velez said.
Santiago missed the whole PVL season last year after powering the Crossovers to a title romp in the 2021 Open Conference together with sister Dindin Santiago-Manabat inside the Ilocos Norte bubble.
Missing the services of Santiago, Chery Tiggo failed to defend its crown and finished in disappointing eighth place in last year’s Open Conference.
The Crossovers also had a forgettable outing in the Invitational Conference but were able to enter the semis in the season-ending Reinforced Conference.
Velez, who steered the team to its first professional crown, will have to navigate his first tournament back as Chery Tiggo tactician without Santiago and Manabat, who transferred to Akari after six seasons with the Crossovers.
He will rely on reigning Reinforced Conference Most Valuable Player Mylene Paat, vastly improved Cza Carandang, EJ Laure, Shaya Adorador, Roselle Baliton, Jasmine Nabor and Buding Duremdes along with new players Ponggay Gaston, Seth Rodriguez and Bingle Landicho.
The Crossovers begin their campaign against Reinforced Conference runner-up Cignal on 7 February at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
