After the conclusion of the 2023-24 Japan V.League season, fans eagerly anticipated the potential return of volleyball stars Jaja Santiago and Jia De Guzman to their respective mother teams for the upcoming 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
However, PVL Commissioner Sherwin Malonzo addressed the speculation during a press conference on Thursday, clarifying the eligibility statuses of the two athletes.
Malonzo confirmed that if Jaja Santiago chooses to make a comeback, she is indeed eligible to don the Chery Tiggo jersey. Santiago's inclusion in the Crossovers' 17-man lineup for the Open Conference aligns with the team's consistent approach in previous tournaments.
In contrast, the situation is less favorable for Jia De Guzman. The Cool Smashers did not include De Guzman in their 19-man roster submitted for the upcoming conference. Teams are allowed to register up to 20 players per conference, with only 14 permitted to participate in each game day.
"Jaja (Santiago), I saw her in the lineup of Chery Tiggo. If she arrives, she can play. But in the case of Jia De Guzman, I didn't see her name. We already ended our registration before the start of the tournament," clarified Malonzo to the press.
The commissioner highlighted a potential oversight on Creamline's part, emphasizing the need for meticulous roster management.
"The 20 slots must be filled up before the start of the tournament. Of the 20 players, each match, you will assign the 14 who will play. So, in the case of Jaja, she's a part of the 20. Jia is not. So, that's the problem," he explained.
Jaja Santiago, who last participated in the PVL during the 2021 Open Conference, is returning after securing a silver medal with JT Marvelous in the Japan V.League.
Meanwhile, Jia De Guzman and the Denso Airybees concluded their Japan V.League campaign with a fifth-place finish overall.
