Jaja Santiago


Alyja Daphne "Jaja" Antonio Santiago is a Filipino volleyball player.

Personal life

Santiago was born on January 20, 1996, the fourth of five siblings. Her brother Axel Leonard Santiago, a former champion of men's volleyball player in National University "NU Bulldogs" of UAAP Season 75, is currently working in PLDT and her older sister is working in Dubai, while she and her sister, Aleona Denise "Dindin" Santiago, both played for the women's volleyball in different leagues. Her father was a former basketball player Jojo Santiago and her mother is Alma Antonio a caregiver in Israel.

Career

Santiago led the NU Lady Bulldogs to win back to back in the Shakey's V-League 13th Season Collegiate Conference without her sister Dindin to support her, despite that she was crowned as the Conference Most Valuable Player award, and the Best Middle Blocker. She was also crowned as the Most Valuable Player in the 2016 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix in a back to back win too, with Foton Tornadoes.
She started her rookie collegiate volleyball career with the UST Golden Tigresses, with her sister Dindin before transferring to National University to follow her sister. After being transferred from UST to the NU Lady Bulldogs, currently Santiago is the team captain, playing her 4th year. She is still undecided if she will use her fifth and final year, after being eliminated by the UST Golden Tigresses in the UAAP Season 79 Women's Volleyball.
She holds the record of the youngest player to ever play in Shakey's V-League. She joins NU as Guest Player in Season 7 Conference 2 at the age of 14. She also holds the record of the tallest player so far in the Shakey's V-League as she now stands 6'5". Her first professional team, Foton Tornadoes and debuted in the 2015 Grand Prix Conference of the Philippine Super Liga and played for 3 conferences.
Santiago is one of the players who was picked to play for the 2016 FIVB Club World Championship which was held in Manila. She is also a member of the Philippine National team that played in Singapore during the 28th Southeast Asian Games and played in Kuala Lumpur, the 29th Southeast Asian Games.
In 2017, Santiago won the Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Collegiate Conference championship with the NU Lady Bulldogs and was named the conference MVP. Also winning the bronze medal in the PSL Grand Prix Conference with the Foton Tornadoes along with the 1st Best Opposite Spiker award. She is currently playing in the Japan V.League for Ageo Medics.

Clubs

Individuals