BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE — Dindin Santiago-Manabat made the ultimate sacrifice of leaving her loved ones behind to help restart volleyball in the Philippines.
It’s been months when the 27-year-old has gone home. Chery Tiggo had been training in a bubble in Clark for months before heading to the Premier Volleyball League’s Ilocos Norte bubble for a month-long competition.
Now, almost two months after leaving her five-year-old daughter Chloe Sapphire and husband Chico, Santiago-Manabat can finally say that all the sacrifices are worth it.
“Sobrang saya kasi ‘yung sakripisyo, ‘yung hirap na malayo ka sa kanila… Sobrang iba ‘yung pakiramdam as in hindi mo sila kasama eh,” said Santiago-Manabat, who played a crucial role in Chery Tiggo’s come from behind series win as she averaged 23.5 points per game.
“Hindi mo talaga alam kung anong… Siguro saya lang, saya lang talaga ang nararamdaman ko kasi ito na. Binigay na sa’min. Siyempre lagi lang naman sinasabi ng anak ko na hihintayin niya ako pag-uwi. And ngayon pag-uwi ko worth it. Sobrang saya talaga.”
On Friday evening, the 27-year-old opposite spiker put up a performance of a lifetime, She had a conference-high 32 points along with 15 excellent digs to help Chery Tiggo complete its comeback bid over Creamline, 23-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-8, in the Game Three of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference finals.
Seeing her squad down after surrendering the first two sets, Santiago-Manabat poured her heart out to make sure that the Crossovers’ hardships and sacrifices will be repaid in the end.
And well, her Herculean performance was clearly a testament to that.
“Positive lang and siyempre naniwala kami kay Lord na alam namin na hindi lahat talaga binibigay nang madali, lahat ‘yon pinaghihirapan so nung nanalo kami sa third set iniisip namin na para sa amin ‘to, walang susuko and naging positibo kang kami sa mga bagay bagay,” said the 6-foot-2 hitter out of National University.
“Yun nga paulit ulit kong sasabihin sobrang saya kasi ito na yun e, last game na ‘to do or die so parang sakin ang iniisip ko lang all out na ibibigay ko na lahat ng meron ako, lahat ng kaya kong itulong sa team ko ilalabas ko na lahat.”
