TUBOD, Lanao del Norte --- Japanese citizen Jaja Santiago-Minowa will still play as a local for Creamline in her much-awaited return in the 2026-2027 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference later this month.

PVL control committee chairman Sherwin Malonzo clarified that despite the 6-foot-5 versatile spiker’s switch of citizenship, Minowa still meets the league’s requirements to be considered a regular player.

“With Jaja, we have this rule now to become a regular player. No. 1, you are a natural-born Filipino, which I think she is. And No. 2, if she’s Filipino-foreign, which is her current status, she needs to present, No. 1, a PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) birth certificate or Philippine passport,” Malonzo said.

Minowa has already presented the required PSA birth certificate and has secured her Games and Amusement Board (GAB) professional license.

“I think she submitted her PSA birth certificate. So, her status is local. And then furthermore, since she already played in 2021, that makes her a free agent,” Malonzo said.

“Our basis here is not about citizenship. It’s about if you’re a natural-born Filipino or you are a Fil-foreign. So right now, I might consider her as a Fil-foreign because she’s Japan-based. Same goes with our Fil-Americans and Fil-Canadians. So, it’s the same thing,” the PVL official added.

Minowa was tapped by the Cool Smashers as a free agent, hoping that her size, power and international experience playing in Japan will help them regain the crown they lost last year.

The former Alas Pilipinas standout last played in the PVL half a decade ago when she led defunct Chery Tiggo to the 2021 Open Conference title inside the Ilocos Norte bubble — the league’s inaugural professional season — at the expense of Creamline in a three-game finale.

Minowa also copped the Conference and Finals Most Valuable Player awards that season.

The 30-year-old Minowa will only suit up for the Invitationals to keep in game shape while waiting for the 2027 League One Volleyball season in the United States to begin in January.

She signed with the San Francisco Signal.

The Invitationals will begin on 31 August, featuring the top four teams of the previous All-Filipino Conference plus two foreign guest teams.

Defending champion PLDT, Farm Fresh and Nxled have all confirmed their participation in the tournament, which allows unlimited imports.

Guest teams will participate starting with the elimination round in this edition, instead of the usual outright semifinal spots in the previous tournament.