Jaja Santiago, or known by her Japanese name Sachi Minowa, playing for Osaka Marvelous in the Japan SVLeague. –OSAKA
MANILA, Philippines — Japan SV.League champion Jaja Santiago is set to play in the KYK Invitational Tournament 2025, an All-Star event celebrating South Korea national team star Kim Yeon-koung’s career.
Santiago, now known as Sachi Minowa as a Japanese citizen, was invited to take part in the KYK Invitational with the top volleyball players in the world on May 17 and 18 at Incheon Samsan World Gymnasium in Incheon.
READ: Jaja Santiago honors PH after winning first Japan SV.League title
The 6-foot-5 Filipino-Japanese middle blocker gets a chance to play with KYK, USA’s Jordan Larson, Chiaka Ogbogu, and Kelsey Robinson-Cook, Japan’s Kotoe Inoue, Natalia Zilio of Brazil, Brankica Mihajlovic of Serbia, Eda Erdem of Turkey, Nataliya Goncharova of Russia, and Christina Bauer of France.
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Kim called it quits last May 1 after a 20-year volleyball career and will celebrate her retirement through an All-Star game.
READ: Jaja Santiago not eligible to play for Japan under new FIVB rules
Akari coach Taka Minowa, Jaja’s husband, expressed his excitement over the all-star game invite.
“Congratulations! Let’s enjoy Korea,” Minowa posted. “Your personality and attitude always open up bigger opportunities and a wider world.”
Santiago earned her first-ever SV.League title over the weekend after the Osaka Marvelous dethroned the NEC Red Rockets in the Finals.
The star middle blocker, though, parted ways with the Marvelous but hasn’t bared what’s next for her.
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