Sachi Minowa, formerly Jaja Santiago, will reunite with Alyssa Valdez at Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League even for a brief time.
The news was first announced by Creamline star Michele Gumabao and later the team via social media one hour apart Friday afternoon that awoke the Philippine volleyball fandom.
Minowa, who was naturalized as a Japanese two years ago after her marriage to current Alas Pilipinas women’s coach and Japanese Taka Minowa, will only team up with the Cool Smashers’ captain in the PVL Invitational and Reinforced late this year.
That was because the 30-year-old 6-foot-5 middle blocker has signed a deal with the San Francisco Signal in the United States’ League One Volleyball Pro, where she would start playing by January next year.
“Since nag-uunahan na lang din tayo. Welcome to the Team Jaja!” said Gumabao on her social media account referring to Minowa.
It will be a reunion of sorts for two of the nation’s most endearing faces in the sport after teaming up with PLDT in the Shakey’s V-League – the PVL precursor – where they won two championships together.
A few years before, Minowa and Valdez were high school teammates at UST.
It will also be a much-sought PVL return for Minowa after suiting up with the now defunct Chery Tiggo Crossover in the inaugural league five years ago–a conference that they eventually won in the COVID era bubble in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.
Interestingly, it came at the expense of Valdez and the Cool Smashers.
Before and after her brief Chery Tiggo appearance, Minowa went on a Japanese tour, suiting up for local Ageo Medics (2018-2023), JT Marvelous (2023-2025) and Denso Airybees (2025-2026).
Now they’re back in each other’s arms as teammates.