Jaja Santiago Biography: Age, Height, Sister, Husband, Career, World Ranking, PVL Team, Position, Salary, Net Worth

Jaja Santiago Biography

Alyja Daphne Antonio Santiago, popularly known as Jaja Santiago, is a prominent Filipino volleyball player known for her impressive height and skill on the court. She started her volleyball career at a young age and has played for various clubs in the Philippines and Japan.

She has been recognized for her talent with several individual awards and has also represented her country in international competitions. Santiago is known for being the tallest player in the Shakey’s V-League and for holding the record as the youngest player to ever play in the league.

Jaja Santiago has had a significant impact on the sport, both in her home country and internationally, and continues to inspire many young athletes. Her latest professional engagement is with JT Marvelous in Japan’s V.League, where she continues to excel in her volleyball career.

Jaja Santiago Age

Jaja Santiago is 28 years old as of 2024.

Jaja Santiago Height

Jaja Santiago stands at a height of 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in).

Jaja Santiago Sister

Jaja Santiago’s sister is Aleona Denise “Dindin” Santiago-Manabat, who is also a professional volleyball player.

Jaja Santiago Early Life and Education

Jaja Santiago was born on January 20, 1996, in Cavite, Philippines, Alyja Daphne “Jaja” and she grew up in Tanza, Cavite.

Jaja Santiago’s educational journey is intertwined with her volleyball career. She initially started her collegiate volleyball career with the UST Golden Tigresses along with her sister before transferring to National University (NU) to follow her sister.

At NU, Santiago pursued a degree in psychology, which she obtained in 20201. Her time at the university was not just about academics; it was also where she honed her skills on the court. She played for the NU Lady Bulldogs volleyball team in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

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Jaja Santiago Volleyball Career

Jaja Santiago’s volleyball career began in the Philippines, where she first made waves in the local volleyball scene. Santiago’s height and skill quickly set her apart as a formidable middle blocker. She started her collegiate volleyball career with the UST Golden Tigresses alongside her sister Dindin before transferring to National University (NU) to continue her athletic and academic pursuits.

At NU, Santiago’s volleyball career flourished. She led the NU Lady Bulldogs to back-to-back championships in the Shakey’s V-League 13th Season Collegiate Conference. Despite the absence of her sister during these tournaments, Santiago’s prowess on the court earned her the Conference Most Valuable Player award and the Best Middle Blocker title.

Santiago’s professional career began with the Foton Tornadoes in the Philippine Super Liga (PSL). Her debut in the 2015 Grand Prix Conference was just the start of a successful stint with the team, where she played for three conferences. In 2016, she was crowned as the Most Valuable Player in the PSL Grand Prix, marking her as one of the top talents in the league.

Her international career took off when she joined the Ageo Medics in Japan’s V.League. Santiago’s impact was immediate, as she helped elevate the team’s performance with her exceptional skills. Her time in Japan has been a significant part of her career, showcasing her ability to compete at a high level internationally and paving the way for other Filipino athletes to follow in her footsteps.

In 2021, Santiago returned to the Philippines to play for Chery Tiggo, formerly known as Foton Tornadoes. Alongside her sister, she helped the team break the record of PVL’s two-time champion Creamline.

As of 2023, Santiago continues to play professionally, now with JT Marvelous in Japan’s V.League.

Jaja Santiago Awards, Titles and Achievements

Jaja Santiago has achieved numerous awards, titles, and recognitions throughout her volleyball career. Here’s a list of her notable accolades:

Individual Awards:

• UAAP Season 72 Girls’ Volleyball: Rookie of the Year (2010)
• UAAP Season 75 Girls’ Volleyball: Best Attacker (2012)
• UAAP Season 76: Rookie of the Year (2013)
• Shakey’s V-League 11th Season Open Conference: Best Attacker (2014)
• UAAP Season 77: Best Attacker (2015)
• Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix: Most Valuable Player (2016)
• Premier Volleyball League 1st Season Collegiate Conference: Most Valuable Player (2017)
• PSL Grand Prix Conference: 1st Best Opposite Spiker (2017)

Club Achievements:

• Foton Tornadoes: 2015 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix, 2016 Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino, and 2016 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix participant
• NU Lady Bulldogs: Back-to-back championships in the Shakey’s V-League 13th Season Collegiate Conference

Special Recognitions:

• 2021 PVL Open Conference: Most Valuable Player and champion2
• First Filipino to win a volleyball title outside of the Philippines with Saitama Ageo Medics

Jaja Santiago Clubs

Jaja Santiago has played for several clubs throughout her volleyball career. Here’s a list of the clubs she has been associated with:

• PLDT Home Telpad Turbo Boosters (2014–2015)
• Foton Tornadoes (2015–2019)
• Saitama Ageo Medics (2018–2023)
• Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Crossovers (2021)
• JT Marvelous (2023–present)

Jaja Santiago Husband

Jaja Santiago is married to Taka Minowa, a Japanese volleyball coach. They got engaged on August 27, 2022, and there were reports of them having a civil wedding ceremony later that year.

Jaja Santiago Net Worth

Jaja Santiago has an estimated net worth of $3 million as of 2024.

Jaja Santiago Instagram Handle

Jaja Santiago’s Instagram handle is @alyjasantiago3. She shares updates about her volleyball career, personal life, and various moments from her journey both in the Philippines and abroad.