Jaja Santiago and husband Taka Minowa. –JAJA SANTIAGO INSTAGRAM
MANILA, Philippines — They could be dwelling hundreds of miles aside, however Nxled Japanese coach Taka Minowa and volleyball participant Jaja Santiago are discovering all kinds of how to make their long-distance relationship just a little bit simpler.
From getting a canine to fixed calls, the volleyball couple is embracing their lives away from one another with Minowa plying his commerce as a Premier Volleyball League (PVL) coach in Manila and Santiago shining as an import in Japan V.League, her husband’s dwelling nation.
Minowa shared that Santiago lately gifted him a canine, whom they named Ahava–which implies love–and the brand new pet has helped the 32-year-old coach discover consolation whereas away from his hometown and spouse.
“Now, I’ve a canine. Jaja purchased me a canine. And I’m very completely happy to see it. I spent my previous time with the canine,” Minowa informed Inquirer Sports activities after leading Nxled to its first franchise winning streak within the second PVL All-Filipino Convention on Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Minowa and Jaja met when the previous was an assistant coach for Saitama Ageo Medics, Santiago’s first workforce within the Japan league.
Jaja Santiago. Picture from JT Marvelous
It’s solely pure that their conversations usually focus on volleyball, however in addition they usually speak about one another cultures with Santiago taking part in her sixth season in Japan with a brand new workforce and Minowa nonetheless getting used to the being in the Philippines as a first-time coach right here.
“After [our] apply and likewise Jaja’s apply, we all the time name one another by way of FaceTime. We’re all the time speaking. Generally when she’s sleeping, I’m already working however we all the time have a connection. When she all the time asks a query. I’ll reply it and likewise I’ve plenty of questions as a result of I don’t know the Filipino tradition. I’m all the time asking her,” Minowa stated.
Minowa, a training employees of the Japanese girls’s volleyball workforce, stated that Santiago is respectful and simple to get alongside–simply few of the various the reason why he fell for the Filipino center blocker.
“As a participant, she all the time respects the teaching employees and teammates. That’s why any workforce in Japan she’s having a very good time. She’s a quick learner, too,” he stated.
Residence away from dwelling
Nxled coach Taka Minowa within the PVL All-Filipino Convention. –MARLO CUETO/INQUORER.web
A month after dwelling in Manila, Minowa is already getting used to the Filipino tradition. He shared that he has already discovered to cook dinner sinigang–a Filipino meals staple.
It additionally helps that Minowa has household right here together with Jaja’s.
“I already know the best way to cook dinner sinigang. Sinigang, nilaga, and monggo are my favourite meals right here,” he stated. “I’ve a household right here, too. I don’t really feel that I’m a foreigner right here as a result of I can meet some household and they’re all the time serving to me. That’s why I felt that that is truly my dwelling nation.”
Apart from the Filipino tradition, the Japanese tactician enjoys the competitors within the PVL.
“I feel you may have a very good potential greater than Japan. You could have highly effective attackers and taller gamers and they’re superb. It’s good to see the gamers within the PVL,” Minowa stated.
