One of the biggest moves in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) offseason was Dindin Santiago-Manabat switching teams from Akari to Choco Mucho.
Facing her former team for the first time, Santiago-Manabat asserted that she has no bad blood against them, and said she was happy to battle the Chargers in a “friendly game.”
“Happy ako na nakatapat ko sila [Akari]. Alam ko na andami nilang adjustment, kasi syempre ‘yung brother-in-law ko na nga ‘yung coach nila dun,” Santiago-Manabat said, also referring to coach Taka Minowa, husband of her sister Jaja, who made the transfer from Nxled to Akari.
Choco Mucho absorbed the defeat in five sets as Akari emerged victorious in comeback fashion, 25-18, 25-16, 21-25, 23-25, 13-15, on Tuesday, July 23, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The former PVL champion was at the forefront of Choco Mucho’s offense that match with a total of 16 points on 14 attacks, one block and an ace, but it wasn’t enough as the Flying Titans fell to 0-2 in the 2024 Reinforced Conference.
Moreover, Santiago-Manabat insisted that she treated her former teammates in Akari as family and friends.
“Super happy ako. Wala akong galit sa kanila kasi lahat naman sila, naging pamilya ko, friends ganyan,” the opposite spiker said.
“Friendly game. Walang sama ng loob, walang galit, walang ano. Kung ano man ‘yung performance ko ngayon, para sa Choco Mucho.”
Talking about how she assimilates into the team, Santiago-Manabat said she barely “adjusted” to the people in the Choco Mucho roster due to familiarity, and she was also guided properly about learning the system of coach Dante Alinsunurin.
“Actually ‘yung adjustment, sobrang konti lang talaga through sa bonding and ‘yung iba nga nakasama ko nasa national team. ‘Yung iba, sa ibang team nakasama ko na,” she said.
“So konti lang ‘yung adjustment pero sa sistema kasi, bago ‘ko dumating sa Choco Mucho, nilatag na nila kung ano ‘yung sistema, ano ‘yung programa, so hindi ako naiiwan doon. Bali parang umpisa pa lang, na-guide na nila ako nang tama kung ano man ‘yung culture doon and ‘yung sistema na nilalatag ni coach Dante [Alinsunurin].” (ABS-CBN News)