Towering middle hitter Dindin Santiago-Manabat has been away from the volleyball court for the past few months, pregnant with her first baby – a girl to be named Chloe – together with her husband Letran Knights assistant coach Chito Manabat.
The former PSL first overall pick shared that she has had a very healthy pregnancy, adding that being an athlete helps a lot with the physical challenges that come with it.
“Hindi naman ako masyadong maselan na buntis. Okay naman, nakikisama naman sa akin si baby – kapag may nararamdaman akong kakaiba, kakausapin ko lang si baby tapos magiging okay naman,” she told Tiebreaker Times happily.
But the former National University Lady Bulldog admits that she sorely misses volleyball, down to the practices that, for her, had become an exasperating routine.
Dindin faced her sister Jaja in her last professional game last December
“Noong time na malalaman kong magpapahinga ako, naiisip ko na iiwan ko muna yung volleyball ng saglit, makakapagpahinga naman ako. Pero alam mo yung nakasanayan na ng katawan mo? Mami-miss at mami-miss mo talaga. Nagpahinga lang ako ng ilang araw, namiss ko talaga agad yung volleyball,” she expressed.
Manabat, however, takes inspiration from other local female athletes who have gotten back to form after giving birth, like her former Petron teammate Fille Cainglet-Cayetano, former UST teammate Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, current Generika middle blocker Geneveve Casugod, and former NU teammate Kai Nepomuceno.
“Naiisip ko din talaga na kung kaya nila, kakayanin ko rin,” she exclaimed.
Even with several international tournaments coming ashore later in the year, Manabat is in no hurry to get back to playing. She wants to focus more on taking care of her baby girl and slowly getting back into shape.
Petron finished second in the 2015 PSL Grand Prix
“Mas maganda kung babalik ako, fully-recovered na. Kahit isipin ko na kaya naman i-challenge yung sarili ko para makabalik, wala naman din akong magagawa kung talagang ‘di pa puwede,” she said.
Manabat’s contract with PSL powerhouse Petron ended last Grand Prix where they lost in the Finals to Foton. Now a free agent, Manabat has not yet considered which team she will play for next.
“Yung panganganak ko muna yung iniisip ko. May mga offers pa rin kahit buntis. Pero gusto ko muna mag-focus kay baby. Pag puwede na, saka ako mag-entertain.”
