Winning PSL Grand Prix MVP ‘unexpected’ for Santiago

Jaja Santiago receives her MVP Award. Photo by Marc Reyes

Jaja Santiago was adjudged Most Valuable Player for the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix.

The 20-year-old has transformed from a inconsistent middle blocker to a full-pledged team leader for Foton which won the the title after a sweep of the best-of-three finals of Petron.

She was part of the Tornadoes who defied the odds last year when they defeated a star-studded Petron then led by sister Dindin Manabat.

“This is unexpected, my team was in chaos a few months back but eventually we pulled it off and I won the MVP,” said Santiago referring to her team’s messy change of coach from Italian Fabio Menta to Serbian Moro Branislav.

Branislav streamlined the Tornadoes with several innovations including utilizing Santiago as open and opposite spiker.

Now she played the key figure for Foton which also had Manabat and a pair of exciting imports Ariel Usher and Lindsay Stalzer.

Petron’s explosive import Stephanie Niemer was First Best Spiker, while Usher was Second Best Spiker. Aby Marano was First Best Middle Blocker, Maika Ortiz Second Best Middle Blocker.

F2 Logistics’ Kim Fajardo claimed the Best Setter Award, while RC Cola-Army’s Jovelyn Gonzaga was First Best Opposite Spiker. Aiza Maizo Pontillas of Petron was Second Best Opposite, while F2’s Dawn Macandili was Best Libero.