How Dindin, Jaja Santiago deal with facing off on court

Two figures stand out during the women's national volleyball team practice at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym on Tuesday: Santiago sisters Aleona Denise and Alyja Daphne.

Fondly called Dindin and Jaja among volleyball circles, the two are taller than average, to say the least. With Dindin at 6-foot-2 and Jaja at 6-foot-5 respectively, they easily stand out on a team full of 5-foot-9 Filipina spikers.

The lanky middle blockers once formed the core of National University's recent emergence in women's volleyball until Dindin graduated last year. Now, they are reunited as vanguards of the national team.

"Masaya kasi minsan lang din mangyari na magkapatid magsasama sa isang team like parang kami na national team pa," said Dindin, who recently married basketball coach Chico Manabat. "Unexpected din na makakasama kami pareho."

The sister are happy to be able to play for the flag together, but the two once saw different themselves wearing national colors in different sports.

Dindin, the older sibling by two years, revealed that she initially wanted to compete in track and field before shifting her attention to volleyball due to her younger sister.

"'Yung pangarap ko talaga is 'yung mag-track and field ako kasi idol ko si Lydia de Vega," she said, adding that she was already training for the sport during her grade school years prior to getting exposed to volleyball.

Dindin's dream of becoming Asia's Sprint Queen will never become a reality, but she said that winning a gold medal in women's volleyball with her sister would be a great alternative.

"Sa aming mga player na regular player lang parang lahat gustong makapunta ng SEA Games," she said. "Natupad na 'yun na makapag SEA Games kami, s'yempre susundan naman namin 'yung pangarap namin na makuha 'yung gold."

Winning the championship is a tall order for the national team, which is returning to the international stage after a 10-year absence. Before that, however, Dindin and Jaja still have to face each other as opponents in the finals of the Shakey's V-League.

Taking sides

Dindin plays for defending champion Philippine Army, while Jaja is on the side of the erstwhile unbeaten PLDT Home Ultera.

Dindin's Lady Troopers won Game One of the best-of-three series, but Jaja's Ultra-Fast Spikers paid them back in Game Two to set up the rubber match on Sunday.

Asked how their family feels whenever they fight each other on the court, the two said they do not take sides and just cheer for the both of them.

"Actually nga yung lolo't lola ko pag naglalaro kami ni Ate Din, 'pag iba 'yung kalaban ninenerbiyos sila," Jaja said. "'Pag kaming dalawa magkalaban, relax lang sila."

The two have had their fair share of moments blocking the other and answering each other's spikes in the four games they played in the conference, but Jaja said she refrains from taunting her older sister after scoring a point.

"Kung iba, may celebration. Pero pag sa kanya, may celebration pero hindi 'yung maangas," Jaja shared. "Wala naman kaming asaran."

Jaja said they are just glad to be able to share a court together, especially now that they are going to wear the same jersey again after settling their battle in the V-League.

"Masaya kaming dalawa kasi parehas naming nakamit 'yung gusto namin nung high school pa na makalaro kami ng international, magkasama kami sa isang team," she said. -- JST, GMA News