In a high-stakes matchup that saw emotions run deep, Dindin Manabat showcased her best performance yet with Choco Mucho, despite their narrow defeat to her former team, Akari, on Tuesday night.
At the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, the 6-foot-2 opposite spiker delivered a standout performance, scoring a team-high 16 points.
However, her brilliance was not enough to prevent Choco Mucho from slipping to a 0-2 record in Pool B of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference.
The Flying Titans started strong but ultimately succumbed to a reverse sweep, with the final scoreline reading 25-18, 25-16, 21-25, 23-25, 13-15.
Despite the defeat, the match was a personal triumph for Manabat, who recently made her debut for Choco Mucho with a modest eight-point performance against Cignal.
Facing Akari, the team she had called home for four seasons, brought a unique set of emotions for Manabat.
The Chargers have undergone significant changes during the midseason break, bringing in new talent including Ivy Lacsina, Kamille Cal, Cams Victoria, and Dani Ravena, along with head coach Taka Minowa, who was formerly with Nxled.
Manabat, whose sister Jaja Santiago is married to Minowa, spoke candidly about the match.
“Happy ako na nakatapat ko sila. Alam ko na ang dami nilang adjustment kasi syempre 'yung brother-in-law ko na nga 'yung coach nila doon,” she said.
Her tenure with Akari began at the start of the 2023 season, where she spent four conferences before being released along with Trisha Genesis, Bang Pineda, and Roselle Baliton. The intention was for these players to join Nxled, but Manabat chose a different path, signing with Choco Mucho instead.
Reflecting on her decision to join the Flying Titans, Manabat expressed no regrets.
“Hindi ako nagda-doubt. Sabi ko nga, super happy ako na naging part ako ng Choco Mucho Flying Titans kasi sobra silang mag-warm welcome. Warm welcome talaga 'yung ginawa nila sa 'kin,” she expressed.
As the conference progresses, Manabat and her team are focused on improving their performance.
With the competition heating up, she emphasized the importance of resilience and continual growth.
