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Despite not winning a UAAP title in her playing years for National University, Jaja Santiago felt as if she had finally won one after witnessing the Lady Bulldogs reclaim the glory in the Season 86 women’s volleyball Finals.
Santiago was part of the proud NU faithful among the ecstatic 22,515 crowd at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday when the Lady Bulldogs completed a series sweep of the UST Tigresses in Game 2, 25-23, 23-25, 27-25, 25-18.
“Hindi man ako nakaranas ng championship sa UAAP sa NU. But seeing them and supporting them nakaka-proud parang nakapag-champion na rin ako,” Santiago told reporters.
“Bumalik yung alaala ko nung nag last playing year ako sa NU. Kaya naiiyak ako kasi nakaka-proud talaga seeing them here in the championship,” she added.
It was her first time to watch NU in the finals after being in Japan when the Lady Bulldogs swept Season 84 to end a 65-year title drought. Santiago also didn’t see NU’s runner-up finish last year.
The former UAAP MVP trained with the Lady Bulldogs a day before Game 2, seeing the desire of the team to close out the championship series and complete its redemption tour.
