For years, Alyssa Valdez and Jaja Santiago-Minowa were often on opposite sides of the net.
Now, for a brief but meaningful stretch, they finally get to play together again.
Santiago-Minowa, now known as Sachi Minowa in Japan, has joined the Creamline Cool Smashers for the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference while waiting for the start of her League One Volleyball stint in the United States. The move reunites her with Valdez, her longtime friend and mentor dating back to their days at the University of Santo Tomas High School.
And for Valdez, having the 6‑foot‑5 middle blocker as a teammate is something she is more than happy to experience.
“Sa totoo lang, yung sinasabi namin kay Jaja—buti na lang teammate namin si Jaja, buti na lang. At as in yung words namin kanina, buti na lang teammate namin si Jaja sa serve pa lang, sa block, sa palo,” said Valdez.
Valdez and Santiago-Minowa: Rivals to Teammates
The two last faced each other in the 2021 PVL Open Conference Finals, when Santiago-Minowa and Chery Tiggo defeated Valdez and Creamline in a dramatic three‑game series inside the Bacarra bubble.
This time, they will be sharing the same side of the court.
For Valdez, the reunion is not just about having one of the league’s most imposing middle blockers on her team. It is also a chance to see how much Santiago has grown after years of playing at the highest level in Japan.
“Iba din yung natuturo niya sa’min, learning namin. Grabe yung growth ni Jaja, hindi lang patangkad, talagang pati mentally, physically, emotionally, grabe yung growth niya as a player. So, I’m just very, very happy to be with her again and learning all these things from her. So, can’t wait to learn much more from her,” Valdez continued.
Santiago-Minowa spent seven seasons in Japan’s SV.League, winning two Best Middle Blocker awards and helping Osaka Marvelous capture the 2024‑25 championship before making her next move to the United States.
But before that next chapter begins, she gets to return home and play alongside someone who has been part of her volleyball journey for years.
Santiago-Minowa already made her PVL return on Saturday, helping Creamline sweep the Galeries Tower Highrisers, 25‑21, 25‑16, 25‑21, at the packed Victorias City Coliseum. She finished with six points, while Valdez led the Cool Smashers with 10.
For Santiago, however, the biggest adjustment has not been returning to the Philippine league. It has been a rediscovery of what it feels like to share the court with Valdez.
“Sobrang happy. Sabi ko nga kanina, nakaka‑overwhelm na makalaro ulit dito sa Pilipinas. And of course, makasama ulit si Ate Ly sa loob ng court,” said Santiago-Minowa.
After years of playing overseas, Santiago-Minowa also appreciates having a familiar presence beside her, particularly with Valdez taking on a leadership role within Creamline.
“We know na si Ate Ly is one of our leaders talaga. And masarap lang maglaro sa loob ng court na walang iniisip kasi alam mong kasama mo rin siya.”
Exciting Times Ahead for Creamline
The reunion comes at an exciting time for the Cool Smashers, who will enter the Invitational Conference alongside defending champion PLDT High Speed Hitters, Farm Fresh Foxies, Nxled Chameleons, and guest teams Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam and EST Cola of Thailand.
The tournament runs from August 31 to September 8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
For a team already loaded with talent, Santiago’s arrival adds another dimension. But for Valdez and Santiago-Minowa, this short reunion means something more personal: after years of growing separately, learning overseas, and meeting across the net, they finally get to see what they can do together.
