In the world of sports, some siblings often face each other – Pau and Marc Gasol, and Steph and Seth Curry in the NBA; Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena in the UAAP; Serena and Venus Williams, Bob and Mike Bryan, and Andy and Jamie Murray in Tennis; and Nick and Nate Diaz in MMA>
In the Premier Volleyball League, some sisters often play on opposite sides of the court. Get to know this sister duo who once took their talents to the PVL.
Laure Sisters: EJ and Eya
After playing for the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, sisters EJ and Eya Laure reunited in the professional scene when they both played for the Chery Tiggo Crossovers from 2023 to 2024.
The Laure sisters first played together in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference when they placed 8th out of 13 teams. In their second tournament together, EJ and Eya’s combined efforts improved the standings of the Crossovers as they finished 4th in the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference. Eya was also hailed as the 1st Best Outside Spiker, her first individual award in the professional league.
Unfortunately, Eya parted ways with the team before the start of the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference. EJ also followed suit, leaving the team at the same time, and later signed with the NXLED Chameleons.
Santiago Sisters: Dindin and Jaja
Before the Laure sisters dominated the Cherry Tiggo Crossovers, it was Dindin and Jaja Santiago who made history when they carried the team to the championship in the 2021 PVL Open Conference, the first conference since the league turned professional.
Before that championship, Dindin and Jaja had stints abroad – Dindin played for Toray Arrows and Kurobe AquaFairies in Japan, while Jaja played for Ageo Medics for three seasons. After helping the team get the inaugural professional crown in the PVL, Jaja returned to Japan with Ageo Medics before transferring to the Osaka Marvelous for two seasons. For the 2025-26 Japanese V.League season, Jaja will be playing for the Denso Airybees.
Dindin, meanwhile, went to Thailand to play as an import of Nakhon Ratchasima. When she returned to the Philippines in 2023, she signed with the Akari Chargers for the 2023-24 PVL season, before transferring to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, where she is currently playing.
Before their professional careers, Dindin and Jaja both played for the National University Lady Bulldogs in the UAAP.
Cheng Sisters: Djanel and Desiree
Unlike the two other sister duos, Djanel and Desiree Cheng have always been playing on different sides of the court.
After playing for the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, Djanel played for the Shopinas.com LadyClickers, Cignal HD Spikers, F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, and the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors. Currently, she serves as the setter for the Petro Gazz Angels, the team she helped win the championship in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
On the other hand, Desiree played for the De La Salle University Lady Spikers in her collegiate years. After that, she played for the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers before moving to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
Galanza Sisters: Jema and Mafe
The sister act of Jema and Mafe is sometimes in full display for the Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL, where they are still playing. Jema is playing as an outside hitter, while Mafe is playing as a setter.
In their collegiate years, Jema played outside spiker for the Adamson University Lady Falcons. At the same time, Mafe suited up for the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses as their setter, being a key cog in the team’s silver medal finish in the UAAP Season 81.
With the Creamline Cool Smashers, Jema and Mafe have already won four championships.
Maraguinot Sisters: Jho and Jaja
Like the Galanza sisters, Jho and Jaja were also a spiker-setter sister tandem in the PVL, having both played for the Akari Power Chargers and NXLED Chameleons. Unfortunately, they decided to go their separate ways as Jaja stayed with the Chameleons while Jho transferred to the Galeries Tower Highrisers.
When they were in college, Jho and Jaja both played for the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in several leagues.
Cruz Sisters: Cha and Cienne
Before becoming an assistant coach with the Petro Gazz Angels, Cha Cruz was known in the Philippine volleyball scene as “Miss Everything” due to her versatility. She retired from volleyball after playing for several club teams, including the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
Cienne Cruz also stepped away from professional volleyball after getting married in October 2023. She last played for the Petro Gazz Angels in 2023.
