By NIKOLE JAVIER
Filipino Jaja Santiago has formally joined the Japan women’s national team as a trainee as she was spotted in the squad’s official team photo.
The 28-year-old middle blocker has been gaining some more valuable experience as a trainee for the Japanese side.
In 2020, Santiago became a pro champion in the Japan V.League with her former team Ageo Medics in Division I, which opened more opportunities for her overseas.
Since then, the 6-foot-4 former National University standout has continued her impressive stint in the country’s local league this time with JT Marvelous where she’s clinched a silver medal with in the recently concluded 2024 season.
There, Santiago was named into the Best Six of the V.League while also clinching the Spiking, Blocking and Fighting Spirit awards.
Last month, it can be recalled that Santiago was called up by the Japanese Volleyball Association to participate in the pool as a trainee.
Should the development continue for the better, Santiago, who is married to Japanese mentor Taka Minowa, could be looking at a citizenship change and make the move official.
“She’ll join the Japan national team training camp. She hasn’t [gone through] naturalization yet, but this opportunity [is a] really big step for her dream. Welcome to [the] Japan national team,” Minowa said on X following the announcement.
Santiago was part of the Philippine national team pool from 2014 until 2022, but is now progressively one step closer to potentially suiting up for Japan, ranked highly at No. 9 in the world.
