Jaja Santiago-Minowa made a winning return to the PVL as the Creamline Cool Smashers closed their 2026 PVL On Tour campaign with a 25-21, 25-16, 25-21 sweep of the Galeries Tower Highrisers on Saturday at a packed Victorias City Coliseum.
The 6-foot-5 middle blocker returned to the PVL for the first time since 2021, when she led the now defunct Chery Tiggo Crossovers to the league’s inaugural professional championship during the Bacarra bubble.
Santiago-Minowa’s return also helped the Cool Smashers finish their On Tour campaign with a perfect 2-0 record. Their scheduled matchup against the Capital1 Solar Spikers on August 8 in Santiago, Isabela, was canceled due to Tropical Depression Maymay.
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses welcomed Santiago-Minowa’s return while emphasizing the importance of building chemistry within the team ahead of the Invitational Conference.
“Siyempre excited kami kasi siyempre Jaja Santiago ’yan. Ang gusto naming mangyari rin talaga maging maganda yung chemistry ng team lalo na parating na ’yung Invitational, yun yung pinakaimportante kasi yung skills ng team nandiyan na eh,” said Meneses.
Galeries Tower Challenges in Third Set
Galeries Tower mounted its strongest challenge in the third set, taking a 20-19 lead and threatening to extend the match.
Creamline, however, responded immediately. Jema Galanza and Kyle Negrito sparked a three-point run to reclaim the lead before Bea de Leon, Alyssa Valdez, and Pangs Panaga helped the Cool Smashers pull away with a 6-1 closing surge.
The Cool Smashers completed the victory in 92 minutes.
Balanced Attack From Creamline
Valdez led Creamline’s balanced offense with 10 points, while Galanza added seven points and 11 excellent digs.
Santiago-Minowa, Panaga, and Tots Carlos contributed six points apiece, while Negrito orchestrated the offense with 17 excellent sets and added two points.
Invitational Conference Up Next
Creamline will return to action in the PVL Invitational Conference, which begins on August 31 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Cool Smashers will be joined by defending champions PLDT High Speed Hitters, Farm Fresh Foxies, Nxled Chameleons, Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, and Thailand’s EST Cola in the week-long tournament.
Galeries Tower, meanwhile, finished its On Tour campaign with a 1-2 record after defeating Farm Fresh but falling to Nxled and Creamline.
Jean Asis, the second overall pick in the 2025 PVL Draft, led the Highrisers with nine points, while Bacolod native Erika Deloria added six.
