Having won a championship with Osaka Marvelous in Japan, Sachi Minowa (also known as Jaja Santiago) sets her sights on another volleyball hot spot: Europe.
Sachi Minowa, also known as Jaja Santiago, has enjoyed a lot of success in her volleyball career as she recently won the S.V.League championship with Japanese team Osaka Marvelous.
The journey was anything but easy as it took Minowa seven whole years since beginning her professional career in Japan before she was finally able to climb the mountain with her new team.
Despite the change of scenery, it still wasn’t a given as Sachi needed to wait until her second season in Osaka to win.
Speaking on One Sports’ Play By Play, Minowa recalled how frustrating it was to lose in the final during her first year with Osaka.
After sweeping the tournament en route to the championship round, the then JT Marvelous were shocked by the NEC Red Rockets in the most important game of the season.
With the pain of defeat in their minds, Minowa said they played with renewed vigor.
“Last year, was a very regrettable moment for us. Because we won straight all the games and then we lost on the finals. It’s kind of, feeling unfair because we didn’t have any chance to fight back because it was only one game," Minowa recalled.
"But this time, [during the semis], it was best of three also. We lost first, but [we said] we’re not gonna let this happen again,” she added.
The victory was even sweeter for Minowa personally, especially after spending much of her time in Japan and having to wait as long as she did to meet that goal.
“It’s my last year. And after seven years being in Japan, kumbaga na-achieve ko 'yung gusto ko talaga ma-achieve, which is 'yung championship.”
During that period, she also won a professional title here in the Philippines when the Chery Tiggo Crossovers ruled the 2021 PVL Open Conference, becoming the first-ever pro champions in the league.
Now, Minowa is eyeing bigger things, even as she is still expected to return to Osaka Marvelous for one more year.
Entering her eighth year in Japan, Minowa seeks another unique set of challenges that will continue to develop her personal game.
The logical next step for the 29-year-old will be another continent known for its volleyball prowess.
“I’ll go back in Japan, this time… But after this year, I think this is my last season in the S.V.League. My next is Europe, really, I’m really eyeing na makapaglaro sa Europe,” she said.
“It is the level of volleyball [that I’m looking at], and their height also. I think, my height is same as their height. In Japan kasi, they are small, they move fast, their toss is fast. Though in Europe also, it’s getting faster. But, I think because they have the height also, I don’t know which level am I right now. So I wanna know kung kaya ko. I wanna learn more,” she added.