Jaja Santiago rues missed chance to win PVL title for Creamline

Jaja Santiago-Minowa and Creamline during a game against PLDT in the PVL Invitational Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Jaja Santiago-Minowa felt a tinge of regret after missing the chance to win a championship for Creamline in her limited time in the PVL Invitational Conference.

Even Minowa’s huge addition wasn’t enough to lift Creamline in a 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12 loss to PLDT that ended their title bid on Sunday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

READ: PVL: PLDT denies Creamline, sends Nxled to first-ever finals

Jaja Santiago-Minowa after a heartbreaking loss. #PVL2026 @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/vmDXDgKIDl

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 6, 2026

Creamline’s loss was Nxled’s gain, as the Chameleons advanced to the final through the FIVB point-system tiebreak with 10 points, ahead of Creamline’s nine and PLDT’s eight.

“We were really aiming for the championship. I’m really sad and I feel bad that I wasn’t able to give that to them during the short time that I’ve been here,” said Minowa in Filipino after firing 25 points, highlighted by nine kill blocks.

“But I’m going to work harder on Tuesday, no matter what happens. At least, we can still fight for a podium finish.”

Creamline missed the Invitational final for the second straight year after ending the preliminary round with back-to-back losses.

But the 6-foot-5 middle blocker still wants to finish strong and bring home the bronze against PLDT also on Tuesday.

“It was definitely a tough loss. I think everyone gave their best, but we just came up short in the end. Maybe the short preparation for everything we’ve been facing also played a part. There are still a lot of things we need to improve as a team,” said Minowa.

READ: Creamline reaps rewards of Jaja Santiago’s presence

Jaja Santiago-Minowa vows to bounce back in the battle for bronze. #PVL2026 @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/lg3zA6apLH

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 6, 2026

“But like I said earlier, the fight isn’t over yet. We still have a game on Tuesday. It’s not the finals and it’s not for the gold, but we can change our mindset and treat it like a Finals game. If we win, we’ll still get a medal. It may not be gold, but a win is still a win. So we really need to work hard for Tuesday. It’s a must-win for us.”

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Minowa praised PLDT star Savi Davison, who erupted for a new career-high 37 points in their first-ever duel.

“She jumps really high and attacks at a high point. She’s difficult to block because of how high she contacts the ball, and she also hangs in the air for a long time,” said Minowa, who is set to play in the League One Volleyball in the United States starting in January.

“It’s also difficult to defend her, especially when she gets a good set. But I’m really lucky that I got the chance to play against her. It’s a good challenge because there are a lot of talented players like Savi that we can face, and it’s a good learning experience for me.”