Jaja Santiago soars above the net. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The scoreboard read 14-13 in favor of PLDT Home Ultera.
Jaja Santiago, the 6-foot-4 middle blocker of the Ultra Fast Hitters, had to score on her final play to give them their first Shakey’s V-League title.
She just needed to overcome one last obstacle, the six-foot-2 middle blocker of Philippine Army.
Her older sister, Dindin Santiago-Manabat.
“During the game, I never thought of her as my sister,” Jaja said. “If I thought of it that way I might lose my game.”
“Walang kapa-kapatid (No sisters in this game).”
Jaja rose up just near the middle of San Juan Arena’s court, Dindin met her at the top of the jump.
With a smooth flick of her wrist, Jaja tapped the blue-and-yellow volleyball and Dindin expected for a powerful spike.
Jaja, instead, tapped ball and it fell softly on Dindin.
Game over.
PLDT took home its first V-League title and Jaja was named the finals MVP.
READ: PLDT upends defending champion Army to wrest V-League crown
“I never expected to win the MVP, I think it should’ve been Alyssa’s because Alyssa is near to it,” Jaja said with a laugh.
“Still it’s still not over for me, my dream’s not over.”
For good measure, Jaja did not only win the Finals MVP, she almost took over the world. Well, sort of.
At the end of the finals series, “Jaja Santiago” was the fourth most talked-about topic on Twitter. CC