Photos from Jaja Santiago/Instagram; PVL Media Bureau
MANILA – Choco Mucho ace Dindin Santiago-Manabat is one proud sister to Jaja Santiago, who will go by the name Minowa Sachi in Japan.
Santiago-Manabat disclosed some details to the media on Saturday regarding her sister's naturalization, which the latter announced in an Instagram post.
The elder Santiago said she has known the development for quite some time, and the JT Marvelous middle blocker did it for her ultimate dream, which was competing in the Olympics.
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"Actually, matagal na niya sa amin sinabi 'yun, bago pa lang mag-Olympics. Sorry Ja, 'di ko alam kung tama ba sabihin ko 'to, pero bago pa lang mag-Olympics lumabas na 'yung passport niya and dineclare na sa amin na Japanese citizen na siya," she said.
"Sobrang happy ko kasi 'yun naman talaga 'yung hinihintay ni Jaja. 'Di man siya nakapasok sa Olympics para i-represent yung Japan, happy naman siya na isa sa mga pangarap n'ya is natupad," she went on.
Dindin is pretty positive the Philippine-born Jaja, also a former star player for PVL club Chery Tiggo, could still play at LA 2028 for Japan.
"May chance siguro 'yung susunod [na Olympics] after four years if kaya pa ng katawan niya kasi by that time is 32 years old na siya. Pero healthy naman si Jaja so alam ko kaya niya kasi sa edad ko kinakaya ko pa, siya pa kaya na mas healthy pa sa 'kin."
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