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Volleyball: Jaja Santiago braces for another switch in position with Japanese club

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/08/29/20180829-jaja-santiago.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Jaja Santiago in action during the 2017 Southeast Asian Games. She is preparing to switch positions — from wing spiker to middle blocker — when she suits up for Ageo Medics in Japan’s V. Premier League next month. File/PSC media pool</figcaption></figure></div>JAKARTA—Former National University star Jaja Santiago is preparing to switch positions once more when she suits up for Ageo Medics in Japan’s V. Premier League next month.From her role as middle blocker during her collegiate days with the Lady Bulldogs, Santiago has been slotted in as a wing spiker for the national team in its stint in the 2018 Asian Games.For Ageo Medics, however, Santiago will revert to being a middle blocker to suit her new team’s needs.“Sobrang hirap kasi opener ako dito, or opposite,” Santiago told ABS-CBN News on Tuesday night. “Tapos pagdating doon middle.”“Tinry nila ako na maging outside or opposite (pero) kailangan nila ng middle eh,” she explained.The 6-foot-5 Santiago expects to arrive in Japan no later than September 15, once she has gotten her work visa and fulfilled all other requirements in her school.With Ageo Medics, Santiago is hoping to maximize her physical tools and improve her skills, while at the same time imbibing the sporting culture of Japanese players — something she is getting a glimpse of in the 2018 Asian Games here.“Nagsabi ako sa kanila ’yung gusto kong mangyari sa akin, which is ’yung matuto talaga, and ma-adapt ’yung culture nila, ’yung disiplina nila, kung paano sila gumalaw,” she explained.“Ang mga kalaban namin sa Japan dito, sobrang composed lang nila, sobrang focused lang sila, relaxed sila. So, sa tingin ko, ’yun ’yung kailangan ma-adapt ko sa kanila,” she added.According to Santiago, her new team had hoped for her to be in Japan by September 5, as it had scheduled a press conference to introduce her along with another import, Kenia Carceres of Cuba.“(Pero) dahil sa conflict ko sa school at sa working visa ko, so mae-extend ako,” she said.Her team can be assured that Santiago is not idle. She is using her stint in the Asian Games to prepare herself, physically and mentally, for the demands of her new team “Sobrang laki ng tulong nito,” said Santiago, the Most Valuable Player in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament. “Actually parang ito na nga ang preparation ko talaga papunta ng Japan.”“Pero siyempre, mahirap din kasi nga iba rin ’yung position ko dito, and ayun, iba din ’yung position ko doon,” she added. “So ’yung matutunan ko lang dito siguro papunta doon is maging ready kung ano man yung position or kung ano man ang lagay na mangyari sa akin.”For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

The former NU star is preparing to switch roles once more when she suits up for Ageo Medics in Japan’s V. Premier League next month.

The former NU star is preparing to switch roles once more when she suits up for Ageo Medics in Japan’s V. Premier League next month.

Volleyball: Jaja Santiago braces for another switch in position with Japanese club

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Volleyball: Jaja Santiago braces for another switch in position with Japanese club

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 29, 2018 07:07 PM PHT

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Jaja Santiago

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