MANILA – After settling for a bronze medal a year ago, Filipina volleybelle Jaja Santiago is now a gold medal winner with the Saitama Ageo Medics in the Japan V. Premier League Division 1.
Santiago and Ageo Medics ruled the tournament after scoring a 26-24, 20-25, 25-21, 25-17 victory over NEC Red Rockets in the one-game finale on Sunday afternoon at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.
The former National University Lady Bulldogs middle blocker dropped 11 points on nine attacks and two blocks to help Ageo Medics improve their bronze medal finish last year.
The feat was also historic for the 6-foot-3 Santiago as was the first-ever Filipina volleyball player to win a gold medal as reinforcement in overseas volleyball competition.
Mami Uchiseto and Yula Sato spearheaded the offense of Ageo Medics with 15 points apiece; Shainah Joseph chipped in 14 markers; and Kyoko Aoyagi added eight markers built on three blocks.
Both teams traded hits in the opening set with the score tied at 24-all, but Ageo Medics took a 25-24 lead on an off-the-block kill by Sato followed by an error by the Red Rockets to close the frame.
In the second set, the Ageo Medics were down 16-23 before mounting a huge run to trim the deficit to three points, but the Red Rockets leaned on Kaori Ueno’s attack and an error by Ageo Medics for a 1-1 set score.
The Ageo Medics were down again 15-19 in the third set before Santiago and company unloaded a huge 10-2 scoring rally to turn things around and move a set closer to the coronation.
Determined to finish off their opponent, the Ageo Medics were on top 19-17 late in the fourth set before taking the fight away from the Red Rockets with a 6-0 blast, including the title-clinching hit of Sato.
Ayumi Yoshida finished the match with 22 points while Misaki Yamauchi chipped in 15 markers for the Red Rockets, which gave away 32 errors in the match./PN
