Two games into her short stint with the Creamline Cool Smashers, Jaja Santiago-Minowa is already showing why the Cool Smashers were eager to bring her in.
The 6‑foot‑5 middle blocker helped Creamline stay unbeaten in the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference, providing a commanding presence at the net as the Cool Smashers swept Ho Chi Minh City, 25‑18, 25‑16, 25‑6, on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
For head coach Sherwin Meneses, having Santiago-Minowa in the lineup has already taken some of the pressure off the rest of the team.
“Napapadali ‘yung laro ng Creamline eh,” Meneses said after the dominant victory.
Santiago-Minowa, Game Changer
Santiago-Minowa’s impact goes beyond her numbers. After scoring 19 points in her Creamline debut against Nxled, she added 12 more against the Vietnamese side as she continued to adjust to a system that had been established long before her arrival.
That transition has been made easier by her willingness to learn and adapt, something teammate Jema Galanza has quickly appreciated.
“Siyempre, masaya. Sobrang gaan kasama si Jaja kasi hindi mo kailangang mag‑isip bago pumalo. Kasi siya na ‘yung papalo,” said Galanza, who previously faced Santiago‑Minowa during their UAAP and PVL careers.
Galanza also pointed to the experience Santiago‑Minowa brings from years of playing at the highest level in Japan.
“Madami kang matututunan kay Jaja. Andami niya na‑share sa amin,” she added.
More than simply adding another scoring option, Santiago‑Minowa has given Creamline a presence that changes how opponents have to approach the net.
Meneses believes her height alone already poses a distinct challenge to opposing attackers, while her experience and leadership have also strengthened the Cool Smashers’ defensive system.
“Siyempre, ‘yung team namin hindi ganun kalaki eh. Knowing Jaja, sobrang nakaka‑intimidate siya sa harap. ‘Yung presence niya talaga sobrang hirap kung kalaban mo siya,” said Meneses.
“Siyempre ‘yung leadership and experience niya, mas napapadali ‘yung depensa namin kapag si Jaja ‘yung nasa harap,” he added.
A Lot More Room to Improve
And the encouraging part for Creamline is that Santiago-Minowa is still getting comfortable.
The former Japan SV.League standout has only played two games with the Cool Smashers, leaving plenty of room for her connection with setter Kyle Negrito and the rest of the team to develop further.
“Marami, marami pa siguro kasi nakakadalawang games pa lang si Jaja sa amin na talagang magiging maganda pa hanggang sa dulo. Siyempre dapat healthy kami talaga every game,” Meneses said.
Galanza is equally excited about what Santiago‑Minowa can still bring as the Invitationals progresses.
“Super excited pa ako kasi two games pa lang, so madami pang kayang ilaro talaga si Jaja, so abangan n’yo po,” she said.
Creamline will next face Farm Fresh on Thursday, September 3, at 1:30 p.m., with another opportunity for Santiago‑Minowa to continue settling into her new team.
