by Kristel Satumbaga
One last push for versatile collegiate spiker Jaja Santiago.
Now on her final year in the upcoming UAAP season, Santiago hopes she could help National University to another crown the way she did in the Premier Volleyball League Collegiate Conference.
The Lady Bulldogs swept through their third consecutive PVL title Saturday night after beating the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in Game Two, 25-22, 25-19, 19-25, 25-16, with the 6-foot-5 Santiago delivering 22 points built on 19 kills and three service aces.
Her overall performance in the conference not only strengthened NU’s dynasty in the league, but also earned her the Conference MVP for the second straight time.
Santiago is praying everything they have worked for in the PVL would reflect in their UAAP title bid early next year, where NU goes for the elusive crown it last won in 1956.
“Ito yung magiging inspiration, motivation at momentum namin na dadalhin namin sa UAAP,” said Santiago of their PVL victory. “Kahit na marami kaming pinagdaanan sa conference na ito, mas nagiging buo yung team. Mas tumitibay at lumalakas.”
The Lady Bulldogs entered the conference under the new tutelage of Babes Castillo, who filled in the shoes of Roger Gorayeb early this year. The PVL was the team’s first tournament under Castillo.
Santiago said working under the new system and winning the PVL crown made them realize that sticking to the plan can help them achieve their goal this time.
“Last year ko na sa UAAP and feeling ko naman, kaya naming mag-champion after nitong performance namin sa PVL. It’s just a matter of respect and jiving with the system. Lahat kami sumunod sa bagong sistema,” Santiago said.
Despite the PVL win, Santiago and the Lady Bulldogs are leaving plenty of room for improvement.
“We learned na hindi kami dapat magpakumpiyansa kung anong meron sa amin ngayon. Kailangan pa naming mag-mature, kailangan pa naming i-master kung ano yung sistema na meron kami ngayon,” said Santiago.
Meanwhile, Santiago’s teammate, setter Jasmine Nabor, earned the Finals MVP plum after posting 46 and 45 excellent sets in the two finals matches.
Other invidivual awardees include Adamson’s Christine Soyud (1st Best Outside Spiker), Arellano’s Regine Arocha (2nd Best Outside Spiker) and Rhea Ramirez (Best Setter), FEU’s Jeanette Villareal (1st Best Middle Blocker) and Toni Rose Basas (Best Opposite Spiker), and NU’s Risa Sato (2nd Best Middle Blocker) and Gayle Valdez (Best Libero).