PVL: No Jaja Santiago for Chery Tiggo as V1 star plays it safe with ongoing Japan naturalization

With Jaja Santiago back in the Philippines and a PVL conference still ongoing, it’s natural to ask one particular question.

 

Will Jaja Santiago suit up for Chery Tiggo?

 

[Related: JAJAntic comeback: Jaja Santiago finds warm homecoming with Chery Tiggo ahead of PVL bronze match]

 

The Crossovers have at least two more games in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference, taking on Petro Gazz in a best-of-three series for bronze.

 

And technically, Santiago can still debut for Chery Tiggo even this late in the tournament, as the Crossovers never left her name off of the active roster.

 

But for the Japan V1 star, the answer to this one particular question is simple.

 

“Ma-expect niyo ako na makikita niyo ako dun [PVL] pero not playing,” Santiago said Wednesday at the Big Dome, where she was in attendance to watch her alma mater NU take on FEU in the Final Four.

 

[Related: UAAP Season 80 MVP Jaja Santiago shows love to NU Lady Bulldogs in Final Four]

 

“Because I’m on the process na [of naturalization] so it’s hard to risk. I can play, but it’s hard to risk,” she added.

 

Last year, it was revealed that Santiago has started the process of acquiring Japanese citizenship.

 

But while she has no idea yet on how far the process has gone along since, she already received a call-up from Japan’s national team, albeit in a support role.

 

[Related: Jaja Santiago receives Japan national team training camp call-up]

 

Jaja was invited by the Japan Volleyball Association to train with the national team back in March.

 

“Actually, walang nakakaalam kung naasan na. Pero it’s on the process and hopefully, ma-approve,” she said on her ongoing naturalization.

 

(With reports from Xander Cipriano & Kiko Demigillo)