Santiago up for challenge of playing low on defense

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

National University skipper Jaja Santiago on Wednesday said she doesn’t mind being her team’s last line of defense as the Lady Bulldogs continue to play without a libero.

Santiago had stretches where she had to stay at the backline during their five-set match against Ateneo in the second round of the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament.

“I’m up for the challenge because I also play that role when I was with [club team] Foton in the Philippine Super Liga,” said Santiago after their win against the Lady Eagles, 17-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13, at Filoil Flying V Centre.

NU head coach Roger Gorayeb decided to field a six-woman unit in their previous game against University of the East without a libero and that trend carried into the first three sets of their match against Ateneo.

Libero Gayle Valdez eventually played in the final two sets to allow Santiago and the other attackers to focus on the Lady Bulldogs’ offense.

Santiago admits she has to play the other facets of the game if she has any plans of improving.

“I accept that I have to play defense and I have to be an all-around player and I don’t have to pressure my teammates that ‘Hey, you take care of receiving the ball,’ I have to help them too,” said Santiago.

The 6-foot-5 Santiago, however, admits playing low in defense is hard because of her height.

“It’s hard because I’m tall and I have to get really low,” said Santiago, who finished with 25 points, 16 off spikes and eight off blocks. “But you have to love what you’re doing to get what you want, and I did just that.”