Five years is a long wait for a homecoming. Jaja Santiago-Minowa ended hers in Victorias City, and Creamline made sure it came with a statement.

The 6-foot-4 middle hitter played her first official Premier Volleyball League match in five years. She was one of the vital cogs in the Cool Smashers’ straight-set romp of Galeries Tower.

The win capped a PVL On Tour stop that ended with a bang. A crowd of 7,000 packed the Victorias City Coliseum for the final leg.

Valdez, Galang Turn Back the Clock

Alyssa Valdez and Ara Galang delivered vintage performances on the same night. The two veterans carried Creamline and Farm Fresh past Galeries Tower and Capital1, respectively.

The Foxies bested the Solar Spikers in the curtain raiser. That set the tone before the Cool Smashers closed out the evening.

Local pride ran through the card as well. Negrenses Erika Deloria and Alyssa Bertolano suited up in front of their provincemates.

The night belonged as much to the crowd as to the winners. Fans in the sugar capital of Negros Occidental had waited a long time to watch PVL action up close.

Negros Ready for Bigger Events

The event was organized by GRID Sports Athletic in partnership with Victorias City. It drew support from Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Javi Benitez.

For one organizer, the stop carried personal weight. “As someone born and raised in Victorias City, bringing the PVL home is deeply personal to me,” said GRID Sports Athletic president Bea Tan.

She pointed to years of groundwork in the region. “Since 2017, GRID Sports Athletic has worked to bring high-level volleyball closer to communities across Negros,” Tan said.

The turnout, she argued, settles the question of demand. “Seeing thousands of Negrenses come together for this event proves that our province is ready for more major sporting events,” she added.

Tan also framed the payoff in broader terms, saying sports can bring “pride, opportunity, and real economic value to our communities.” The players, for their part, want to inspire young athletes in the city.

The night closed on a celebratory note. An after party featuring singer Gigi de Lana capped the tour’s final stop.

One flag before this runs: your source copy lists Alyssa Bertolano under both Galeries Tower and Farm Fresh, so her team needs confirming. I have left the name in without assigning a club.