Dindin Santiago-Manabat has been providing the much-needed firepower as Choco Mucho welcomed the new year with a strong start in the resumption of the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Manabat displayed her vintage form and connived with ace spiker Sisi Rondina in leading the Flying Titans to three straight wins for a 5-3 win-loss record in fifth place.
The grizzled veteran played a huge role in Choco Mucho's last two victories, earning her the distinction as this year's first PVL Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live winner for the period of January 18 to January 25.
The Flying Titans picked up from where they left off last year with Manabat dropping 19 points in a come-from-behind 20-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-9 win over ZUS Coffee at the Philsports Arena last January 18.
She unloaded 15 kills and four kill blocks to help Choco Mucho weather the Thunderbelles' tough challenge.
Following winger Kat Tolentino’s surgery due to a ruptured appendix, Manabat continued to step up as she tallied 16 points and eight digs in the Flying Titans' triumph over PLDT, 21-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-18, last Thursday.
“Actually, ‘yung nilaro ko inaalaay ko talaga siya kay Kat kasi isa rin siya talaga sa inspirasyon nitong araw kasi parang hindi niya deserve ‘yung nangyari sa kanya,” said Manabat.
“Sobrang sipag niya, sobrang bait niya, so pumunta ako dito–siyempre mindset talaga is manalo and susunod lang sa sistema ni coach," she added.
With the 31-year-old turning back the hands of time and stepping up for the Flying Titans when it mattered most, her stellar showing bested Rondina, Cignal’s Vanie Gandler, Creamline’s Jema Galanza, Petro Gazz’s Myla Pablo, Farm Fresh’s Jolina Dela Cruz, ZUS Coffee’s Chai Troncoso, PLDT’s Savi Davison, Chery Tiggo’s Cza Carandang, and Akari’s Faith Nisperos for the weekly nod deliberated by print and online journalists covering the competition, which is streamed live and on-demand via the Pilipinas Live app and on www.pvl.ph.
Behind her resurgence, the 6-foot-2 star underscored her personal mission to help Choco Mucho win a breakthrough title. Since joining the league 2019, the Flying Titans' closest run to the throne was a couple of runner-up finishes in the past two editions of the All-Filipino Conferences.
“Gusto ko lang talaga is makatulong sa team kasi gusto ko na makagawa kami ng history sa Choco Mucho. Lagi lang naman ako naniniwala kay coach Dante (Alinsunurin). Hindi niya naman kami pinagsasawaan na sabihan ng sabihan,” Manabat said.
“Siguro lagi lang namin sinasabi na challenge accepted kasi lagi kaming [sinasabihan] ni coach Dante na dapat ready kami, dapat masipag kami. Sumunod lang ng sumunod sa sistema para ‘yung ginagawa namin maging synchronized,” she added.
Manabat and the Flying Titans have more than a week to prepare against the Akari Chargers on February 8 at the same venue in Pasig City.
