A revitalized Dindin Santiago-Manabat made a strong statement after the PVL’s month-long holiday break, delivering a 19-point breakout performance for Choco Mucho in their reverse sweep of ZUS Coffee last Saturday.
But that wasn’t all.
The Flying Titan’s other opposite spiker, Kat Tolentino, suffered a ruptured appendix last Monday and underwent surgery on Tuesday. Tolentino’s injury would sideline her indefinitely in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Given the circumstances, Manabat knew she had to step up even more.
Manabat rose to the occasion on Thursday, backing up Sisi Rondina with 16 points and eight excellent digs as Choco Mucho triumphed over PLDT, 21-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-18, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
“Actually, ‘yung nilaro ko inaalay ko talaga siya kay Kat kasi isa rin siya talaga sa inspirasyon nitong araw, kasi parang hindi niya deserve ‘yung nangyari sa kanya,” said the 31-year-old opposite spiker.
“Sobrang sipag niya, sobrang bait niya, so pumunta ako dito – syempre mindset talaga is manalo and susunod lang sa sistema ni coach.”
(C) PVL Images
In Choco Mucho’s first six games of the conference in 2024, Manabat had only accumulated 27 points in 15 sets played. In just two games of 2025, she has already more than doubled that, with 35 points.
For the veteran 6-foot-2 spiker, it’s all about accepting the challenge to make the Flying Titans a stronger team.
“Siguro lagi lang namin sinasabi na challenge accepted. Lagi kaming [sinasabihan] ni coach Dante na dapat ready kami, dapat masipag kami. Kumbaga sumunod lang nang sumunod sa sistema para ‘yung ginagawa namin maging synchronized,” she shared.
“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. Hindi niya naman kami pinagsasawaan na sabihan nang sabihan,” Manabat continued.
With this latest win, Choco Mucho is on a roll with three consecutive victories, bringing their record to 5-3 and securing solo fourth place.
The Flying Titans will now take a 15-day break before returning to action on February 8 against Akari. They’ll complete their preliminary schedule against Nxled and Chery Tiggo.
