Santiago makes Japan national pool

‘She’ll join the Japan national team training camp.

She hasn’t gotten her naturalization yet but this opportunity is a big step toward her dream.’

Jaja Santiago’s dream of playing for the Japanese national team got a major boost as she was tapped to be part of its training pool for major international events, including the Volleyball League of Nations and the Paris Olympics.

Santiago, who is married to a Japanese coach in Taka Minowa, was given a callup by the Japan Volleyball Association after leading the JT Marvelous to a runner-up finish in the Japan V. League.

She will join another V. League campaigner in Melissa Valdes of Cuba in the training pool of the Japanese national squad.

“We are pleased to announce that two trainees, Jaja Santiago (JT Marvelous) and Melissa Valdes (PFU Blue Cats), will participate in the training camp of the Japan women’s national volleyball team,” the JVA announced in a statement.

But cracking into the national roster is easier said than done. Minowa, who is serving as head coach of Nxled in the Premier Volleyball League, clarified that the 6-foot-5 middle blocker has yet to formally acquire her Japanese citizenship.

In a previous statement, Santiago admitted that becoming a Japanese citizen isn’t easy as she is still in the process of collecting residency years which could take around five to seven years.

Still, the fact that she was picked to be part of the national training pool is already a major boost to her bid of representing Japan in major international tournaments.

“She’ll join the Japan national team training camp. She hasn’t gotten her naturalization yet but this opportunity is a big step toward her dream,” said Minowa, who is also an assistant coach in the Japanese national team.

“Welcome to Japan’s national team.”

Santiago earned the Best Attacker, Best Blocker, the Fighting Spirit Award and was also named among the best six middle blockers in the league.