Jaja joins Creamline in an exhibition game against Choco Mucho

SACHI MINOWA, formerly Jaja Santiago, was unveiled on Sunday in an exhibition showdown between sibling rivals Creamline and Choco Mucho in Cagayan de Oro on Sunday.

And the Cool Smashers liked what they saw.

Ms. Minowa, married to Alas women’s Japanese coach Taka Minowa, saw limited action but delivered the points when it mattered most as the 11-time Premier Volleyball League (PVL) champion downed Choco Mucho.

It was not a regular PVL game nor implemented the sport’s traditional scoring rules as the two played five full sets with Creamline seizing four of it, 25-18, 25-20, 25-15, 20-25, 15-9.

Despite minimal appearance, Ms. Minowa showed why she had been recruited in the Japanese league for years and delivered the points late in the third and fifth sets that helped seal the win for the proud ice-cream-producing franchise.

While it isn’t officially a PVL match yet, it was Ms. Minowa’s first appearance in a game on local soil since steering a now defunct Chery Tiggo to an epic five-set thriller over the same club she is playing now to win the PVL’s inaugural conference — a bubble tournament in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte five years ago.

That was Aug. 13, 2021.

Ms. Minowa will have a chance to play in the PVL again since that memorable day as she could suit up in the final PVL on Tour schedule versus Galeries Tower on Saturday in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

And everybody should expect another strong performance from her. — Joey Villar