Creamline added size and firepower to its already deep arsenal by signing Jaja Santiago-Minowa for the coming Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference.

After weeks of speculation about the former league Most Valuable Player’s return to action in the local club scene, it was no less than veteran Cool Smashers winger Michelle Gumabao who dropped the biggest unboxing ahead of the official start of the 2026-2027 PVL season.

Gumabao posted the 6-foot-5 two-way player as the newest member of the pink-and-white squad on her Facebook account on Friday.

“Since nag-uunahan na lang din tayo, welcome to Team Jaja!” Gumabao whimsically wrote.

The former Alas Pilipinas standout, now known as Sachi Minowa since switching her citizenship to Japanese, will return to the PVL five years after powering the defunct Chery Tiggo to the 2021 Open Conference crown at the expense of Creamline.

Santiago-Minowa was a dominant force during the PVL’s inaugural season as a professional league in the Ilocos Norte bubble, where her steady performance earned her the Conference and Finals MVPs along with the Best Middle Blocker recognition.

The National University product teamed up with sister Dindin Santiago-Manabat in a thrilling finals series that went the full distance, highlighted by the Crossovers’ come-from-behind five-set win in Game 3.

Santiago-Minowa, wife of Alas women’s head coach Taka Minowa, is taking advantage of the opportunity to play in the PVL to stay in game shape as preparation for her stint in the League One Volleyball in the United States starting early next year.

The 30-year-old Santiago-Minowa signed with the San Francisco Signal last month for the 2027 LOVB season scheduled to begin in January.

Santiago-Minowa, who spent nine seasons in the Japan SV.League with three different clubs, is set to fly to the US in November.

But for the meantime, she is expected to help the 11-time champion Creamline reclaim the Invitational crown it last won in 2024.

Santiago-Minowa will be hooking up with former Alas teammates Alyssa Valdez along with other seasoned Cool Smashers stars in Gumabao, Tots Carlos, Jeanette Panaga, Bea de Leon and Jema Galanza.