Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Dindin Santiago-Manabat in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Dindin Santiago-Manabat has been turning back time and displaying her vintage form to lead Choco Mucho to its third straight in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Manabat, filling in the void left by Kat Tolentino, who had surgery due to a ruptured appendix, powered Choco Mucho past contender PLDT, 21-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-18, on Thursday at Philsports Arena.
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Manabat dropped 16 points and eight digs to backstop Sisi Rondina, who scored 20 points.
LIVE: PVL All-Filipino Conference – Akari vs Nxled, Choco Mucho vs PLDT
The prevailing mindset behind her resurgence is the desire to make history with the Flying Titans this year.
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“I just really want to help the team because I want us to make history with Choco Mucho. I always believe in Coach Dante (Alinsunurin). He never gets tired of guiding and reminding us,” said Manabat, who scored 19 points last Saturday in their five-set win over ZUS Coffee.
The veteran opposite spiker said she’s ready to step up for the Flying Titans, who improved to a 5-3 record, with Tolentino is expected to miss some time.
READ: PVL: Dindin Manabat no hard feelings, regrets in facing Akari
“We always say, ‘challenge accepted,’ because Coach Dante constantly reminds us that we need to be ready and hardworking. We just follow the system so that everything we do becomes synchronized,” she said.
Manabat is offering her game to Tolentino, the same way her teammates are using their star’s absence as inspiration to keep on winning.
“Actually, I dedicated my game to Kat because she’s truly one of my inspirations today. It feels like she didn’t deserve what happened to her. She’s so hardworking and kind. So, I came here with the mindset to win and to follow Coach’s system,” she said.
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