During the last tiff of the preliminary round of the ongoing women's volleyball competition in the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia, the Philippine volleyball team had two tough options against the host country: a win propels them to a quarterfinal matchup against the reigning champions Korea while a loss pits them against Olympic titlists China. The Indonesians took care of business and the Chinese stood between the Pinays and a semifinals stint.
Needless to say coming in to that match that it was highly improbable that the Philippines would advance against the world's best women's volleyball team and during that knockout affair, China crushed them in straight sets-as expected-25-15, 25-9, 25-7. The national volleybelles now compete in the classification stages to determine the final positions in the tournament. They take on Kazakhstan on Friday and the winner vies for the match for fifth place.
While the team is out of medal contention, there were many positives that emerged from their first Asiad in 36 years.
They scored a victory over Hong Kong (as they did during the Asian Senior Women's championship in Manila last year) and they also stole a set from Indonesia-something that had not been achieved since the national volleyball program was revived a few years back. Against Thailand, the Filipinas almost got the first set; prompting Thai "Living Legend" Pleumjit Thinkaw to exclaim that the Philippines is much better than before.
The program is gaining ground and it is not a farfetched notion that in a few years, the Philippines will be relevant in the Asian scene.
With pillars such as Alyssa Valdez, Kim Fajardo, Dawn Macandili and skipper Aby Maraño only in their twenties and still peaking, the future is bright and if this team (and the others waiting in the wings) stays together, then a medal in the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games becomes a very high possibility.
But against China, one player showed that she can make inroads on the world stage and maybe help place the country on the map in a sport that it once dominated in the region.
Jaja Santiago went off for 16 markers on 12 attacks, three blocks and one service ace against the taller and much more experienced Chinese. The 6'6" Tanza, Cavite native out of the National University (NU) who plays commercially for the Foton Tornadoes in the Philippine Superliga (PSL), was unfazed and almost oblivious to who was in front of her as she challenged the opposing defenses which at times seemed intimidated by her hulking presence.
The scary part about Santiago's potential is that she just turned 22 last January and has yet to even unleash everything she's got. She made the transition from being a natural middle blocker to a steady wing attacker and is also now a more than decent backline defender as her length helps her cover a huge portion of the floor. Her dexterity, quick reflexes and high volleyball IQ makes her an asset in any zone.
The breakthrough she had against the Chinese, though, may have unlocked a door that now makes her a bonafide international campaigner.
"When I first walked on to the floor, I was nervous because they were tall and (I knew) they are the Olympic champions," Santiago told ESPN5's Lyn Olavario after the match. "But then I realized that this opportunity seldom comes and I have to take this opportunity to excel even more in the sport. And I'm happy even they were all tall, I was able to do my part for the team."
The Chinese eventually started sending their entire frontline in attempts to diffuse her offense and at one point, she even turned back the spike of China's captain Zhu Ting; considered by many aficionados as among the elite on the planet.
"That was supposed to be (Maraño) on her," Santiago confessed. "I was just able to catch up."
Santiago also believes that one of the reasons she played well was that she subscribed to an idea broached by head coach Shaq de los Santos.
"Let's say they're tall, but once you commit yourself to defending against them and (trust) your coverage you'll be able to get it done and maybe even convert it to a spike. Why not? We might even score off it."
Santiago had the opportunity to go abroad earlier on in her volleyball career when the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) attempted to lure her into their program when she was seventeen, but she opted to stay at NU to be closer to her family.
Not long after her eligibility for the Lady Bulldogs was over, she got invitations to tryout for the Korean Volleyball League (KVL) and an initial sortie in the Japanese professional circuit. Finally, she will be taking her talents to the V Premier League after the Philippines competes in the Asian Volleyball Cup in Thailand next month.
However, after Santiago's stellar showing against China, Japan may not be the only country she will end up playing for.
"She can be a world class player," raved Akiyoshi Kawamoto, the head coach of the Okayama Seagulls in the V Premier League in an interview earlier this year. "I like her height and skills. She just has to train hard to correct some mistakes in blocking and floor defense. But overall, she can be a very good player."
Santiago's predecessor in the international arena is Valdez, who began paving the way after her collegiate dominance for the Ateneo de Manila University in the early portion of the decade.
Valdez-arguably the best volleybelle in the land today-had two international stints namely with 3BB Nakornnot in the Thai circuit and later on with Attackline in Taipei. Although "The Phenom" has declared that she will stay domestic this year, she will still be open to more exposures abroad.
Now it's Santiago's turn.
And the experience points she will gain in Japan starting this October will bring out even more of her untapped talent while she can eventually share her attained knowledge with the budding national program that is now beginning to rise from obscurity, especially after its re-emergence in the Asiad.
"I guess it's normal to go through this process as it could be what the stronger nations went through as well when they were developing," Santiago said. "We're just starting again but we can already see the improvements of the national team. (Maybe) in two, three years if we stay with this, we might be at par with our opponents in the Asian Games and the SEA Games. We'll take our time. We'll get to the point where we'll be able to compete against them on even terms and perhaps even win."
Her outlook reflects that of a nation that is now embracing volleyball as a mainstream, viable sport that could be a source of pride for a country that yearns for heroes in the international scene. Our basketball team took awhile to return to become the Asian power it once was and it won't be long before volleyball follows suit.
Santiago, however, could be on the cusp of greatness. And again, she's only 22.