Jaja Santiago dropped nine points to power the Saitama Ageo Medics to a 25-21, 25-19, 25-13 straight sets victory over the NEC Red Rockets in the Japan V.League on Saturday at the Todoroki Arena.
The Filipina volleyball ace had a rousing start in her fifth season in the league with a crisp 6-of-13 attacking clip against the Red Rockets, who played sans Japanese national team star Sarina Koga.
Santiago, who started in all three sets, was also active at the net scoring three of the Ageo Medics' five kill blocks.
The 6-foot-5 middle blocker had more kill blocks than NEC, which only had two courtesy of Misaki Yamauchi.
Yuka Sato and Aki Meguro showed the way for the Ageo Medics, who sat out Serbian import Sara Lozo.
Sato hammered all of her 13 points from kills while Meguro had 10 markers built on seven attacks and three aces for Saitama. Momoko Niida added nine points.
The 6-foot-1 outside spiker Lozo, who played in the Serbian national team's title run in the 2022 FIVB Women's World Championship, joined the Ageo Medics last Monday.
The Ageo Medics shoot for a repeat against the NEC Red Rockets on Sunday at 12 noon (Manila time).
Ayumi Yoshida led the Red Rockets with 14 points while Yamauchi and Kaori Ueno chipped in eight markers each.