MANILA – Aleona Denise “Dindin” Santiago-Manabat is set to take her talents abroad. She agreed to play as reinforcement for the Nakhon Ratchasima in the ongoing 2021-22 Volleyball Thailand League.
A social media post by the league on Thursday night confirmed Nakhon’s acquisition of the former National University Lady Bulldogs hitter for their second round matches.
The arrival of Santiago-Manabat is an added boost for the Nakhon Ratchasima team after an inconsistent showing in the first round of competition where they ended up with 4-3 win-loss slate.
Santiago-Manabat, a two-time Shakey’s V-League MVP awardee, will be the second Filipina import for Nakhon Ratchasima after Mylene Paat, who was also her teammate at Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the Premier Volleyball League.
The 28-year-old Santiago-Manabat is set to fly to Thailand on Saturday evening, according to reports, and will immediately play for Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday morning against Nakornnont team.
For Santiago-Manabat, this will be her third tour of duty as reinforcement following her two previous stints with the Toray Arrows in 2018 and with Kurobe AquaFairies in 2019 at Japan V.League.
The decision of Santiago-Manabat, however, was a huge blow for the title-retention bid of the Crossovers in the 2022 PVL Season as she became the third Chery Tiggo to take a leave and play overseas aside from Paat and younger sister Jaja Santiago.
Santiago-Manabat and Paat, however, could still return for the Crossovers midway in the 2022 PVL Season, if ever it pushes through next month, since the Thai league is scheduled to end by early March.
“It depends (on how long they will stay in Thailand) but rest assured that they will be back in time for the PVL,” Chery Tiggo team manager Ronwald Dimaculangan told Spin.ph.
The 6-foot-2 Santiago-Manabat is now the fourth Filipina volleybelle to play overseas aside from teammate Paat and Santiago (Saitama Ageo Medics in Japan V.League) and Filipina-Hawaiian Kalei Mau (Athletes Unlimited)./PN
