A FIVB rule prevents Jaja Santiago, now known as Sachi Minowa, from suiting up for the Japanese national women's volleyball team.
Article 5.2.2 of the new FIVB regulations hinders players from transferring to another federation if he or she has represented the senior national team of his or her federation of origin.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon 'Tats' Suzara pointed out on Tuesday, September 10, that Santiago already represented the country in multiple international competitions.
"Jaja is now a Japanese citizen, I heard. She is married. But, there is a new rule, last year by FIVB, that if you played in a national team of another country, you cannot transfer to another federation," Suzara said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum.
"Ang problem ay Jaja already played sa national team sa Philippines three or four times. The new rule, last year, she can never play with Japan," he stressed.
Suzara, the newly-elected president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation, also said that Santiago can still play for the Philippine team even though she already shifted nationalities.
The PNVF chief said that the Philippines remain as the country of origin in the case of Santiago.
"Hindi passport ang basehan dito, federation of origin. Jaja is still Filipino by nature, good to play for the national team. Kung hindi siya nag-national team pwedeng mag-transfer," Suzara said.
"She is welcome to play in the Philippine national team but for her to represent Japan, at the moment, no," he added.
Last August, Santiago, the wife of Japanese coach Taka Minowa, announced the she obtained her Japanese passport, months after she revealed that she received an offer to change her nationality to Japanese.
Prior to earning a Japanese citizenship, Santiago helped the Saitama Ageo Medics win gold in the 2021 Japan V Cup Division 1.
