Jaja pulls out of SEAG

A conflict in schedule prompted Jaja Santiago to withdraw from suiting up for the national women’s volleyball team in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. president Joey Romasanta revealed that Santiago’s club in the V.Premier League in Japan — Ageo Medics — didn’t issue her the clearance to participate in the biennial meet set in the country form 30 November to 11 December.

Daily Tribune broke out the news about Santiago’s non-participation in the biennial meet after the 6-foot-5 spiker left for Japan on 28 August without any agreement between her Japanese club and the federation.

“I already talked to my agent and he told me that my Japan team didn’t agree to release me for the SEA Games,” said Santiago in a text message to national team coach Shaq de los Santos.

The Nationals are set to leave this Friday for a training camp in Bangkok followed by the 1st Southeast Asian Volleyball Grand Prix from 20 to 22 September in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Aside from Santiago, also pulling out their names from the national pool are Jema Galanza and Celine Domingo.

With that, the federation is looking to add veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga, Roselyn Doria, Maddie Maddayag and Kim Fajardo as replacements.