Jillian Santos. Handout photo.

MANILA — The De La Salle Lady Spikers will be bolstered by Jillian Santos, a 5-foot-10 opposite spiker who played in the US NCAA Division 1 with the University of Illinois Chicago in the upcoming UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament.

Santos, who already played here with University of Santo Tomas and had a brief stint with Ateneo as a COVID reserve in Season 84, opted to come back after playing in the US for three years — where she embraced the role of captain in her senior year.

She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology and is now taking up a master’s degree at the De La Salle University.

"After learning that I had two more years of UAAP eligibility left, La Salle reached out to me. They not only offered me a chance to play but also pursue my master’s in clinical psychology," Santos said. "Alongside that, it’s always great to be home."

Further explaining her decision to take up the mantle of a Lady Spiker, Santos said "They got to know me on a personal level."

"La Salle was the primary one that expressed interest," she said. 

"They got to know me on a personal level — even my dad (Jeffrey) and other family members. They built that connection, which impacted my decision. Plus, my mom (Gieneen) graduated from La Salle, so that also played a role."

Santos is expected to bring her foreign experience to La Salle. And on top of that, she will be mentored by UAAP's winningest coach, Ramil de Jesus.

“It was incredible — playing in another country, experiencing a new level of play, and pushing myself,” Santos said. 

“I made lifelong friends, learned a lot about independence, and even became captain of UIC in my last season. That was something I never expected, but I welcomed the challenge with open arms.”

"Coach Ramil [de Jesus] is a great mentor. You can see day in and day out that he truly cares about the personal excellence of each one of his players. I’m grateful to be a part of his system this season," she said.

The newest Lady Spiker seeks to help the Taft campus reclaim its crown in women's volleyball.

"I’m always going to give a hundred percent — on and off the court," Santos expressed.