By NIKOLE JAVIER
Former national team member Jaja Santiago believes that Alas Pilipinas is very capable of capturing the breakthrough gold medal in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup.
The Philippines is now headed to its first AVC-sanctioned semifinal appearance against Kazakhstan on Tuesday, May 28 after the Jia Morado-led Filipinas completed a historic four-game sweep of their preliminary campaign.
All the while, Santiago was watching intently as the squad accompanied the growing Philippine volleyball community with a perfectly timed rise to the international stage.
Alas Pilipinas climbed eight places in the FIVB world rankings from 63rd to 55th following its Pool A sweep of the ongoing tournament.
“In a short period of time, their connection is already so strong. One of the reasons [for that] also is because of Jia leading the team. She leads and they all follow,” Santiago said.
“They had a great start. And going to the semifinals, the connection will be just stronger. I think they can be the champion,” she added.
Santiago even went as far as to say Alas Pilipinas has potential to go beyond the weeklong tournament.
“Of course we have a lot of potential. VNL, Olympics [we can maybe qualify there in the future]. With this kind of lineup, we can get that dream.”
Santiago, who played for the Nationals for seven years – the last time in the 2022 Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, is in the process of changing her citizenship.
After tying the knot to Japanese volleyball coach Taka Minowa in 2022, the Filipina middle blocker has eventually been called up to the country’s national team as a trainee.
Amid switching federations and volleyball affiliations, Santiago was beaming with pride for her former teammates and rivals, seeing the talents come together for one mission.
“Everyone is a fighter. You can see how willing they are really to give their best to win every game. Kahit sino ipasok, they will deliver. ‘Yun ang maganda sa characteristic ng team,” said Santiago.
“This is the youngest team. Kahit bata, like Angel Canino, this is her first time, you can see their willingness to deliver really well,” she added.
While Morado and Canino have been expected to impress since day one, any reshuffle from the rotation was no wasted potential either.
