Jaja Santiago’s 23 points not enough to lift Saitama
Jaja Santiago of the Saitama Ageo Medics in the Japan V.League. Photo from Saitama Ageo Medics
MANILA, Philippines—Jaja Santiago’s big game went for naught as Saitama failed to complete its comeback in a loss to Denso, 24-26, 23-25, 25-23, 25-18, 11-15, in their second straight meeting in the 2021-22 Japan V.League season Sunday at KitaGas Arena Gym 46 in Sapporo.
The Ageo Medics, who won two entered the match with a two-game winning run, won against the Airybees on Saturday, 25-23, 24-26, 25-17, 25-22, but could not carry their momentum into the latter stages of the match.
Denso raced to an early 8-3 lead in the fifth set before the Ageo Medics got to within two, 11-9.
The Airybees, however, calmed the storm and held on in the final stages.
Santiago finished with a game-high 23 points to lead Saitama, which fell to a 5-5 record for a tie in sixth place with the PFU Bluecats, while Mami Uchiseto and Zhu Li Yamaguchi had 15 and 11 points, respectively.
Yuki Hyodo led Denso with 20 points while Roslandy Acosta added 19.
The Ageo Medics take on Toyota next on Saturday at Kawagoe Sports Park General Gymnasium.
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