ILOCOS NORTE - Seeing her older sister put up a performance of a lifetime, Jaja Santiago made sure that her efforts would not go down the drain.
Chery Tiggo was already at the brink of losing the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference title after surrendering the first two sets of the winner-take-all Game Three to Creamline on Friday at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center here in Bacarra.
The younger Santiago confessed that she was a bit rattled when the Cool Smashers started the match with guns blazing. But witnessing how Dindin fought through every set, Jaja managed to get her act together in time to save the Crossovers from defeat.
"Sobrang saya kasi alam mo yun nung first set second set parang nawawala talaga ako pero siya yung nagstep up para sa team and then pagdating sa dulo kinakapitan ko siya at yung teammates ko na guys sa atin to," revealed the Conference and Finals MVP.
"Lalong lalo na yung ate ko na sabi 'Ja ituloy mo lang'. Sobrang nakakaproud na naglalaro ka kasama yung kapatid mo na maghihila sayo at di ka niya ilelet down talaga," she added.
Jaja finished what her sister Dindin started, completing Chery Tiggo's huge comeback by nailing the championship-clinching hit to take the 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-8 reverse sweep of Creamline.
Dindin - who carried the Crossovers in the crucial third set to avoid a sweep - finished with a career-best 32 points while Jaja finished with 22 attacks and four blocks for 26 big points.
"Sobrang special talaga na kasama ko siya kasi yun nga antagal na naming inaantay tong panahon na ito na magchampion kami na nasa isang team kami kasi lagi kaming magkalaban pagdating sa championship." (DJ)
