Tag: Choco

Dindin Santiago-Manabat ‘huge help’ for Choco Mucho

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Dindin Santiago-Manabat is officially welcomed by Choco Mucho Flying Titans ahead of the PVL Reinforced Conference. –CHOCO MUCHO PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin believes having Dindin Santiago-Manabat is a big boost to the Flying Titans as they hope to overcome a title hump in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference in July.

Choco Mucho on Monday officially welcomed Manabat to their team, a week after Inquirer Sports broke the news that she was released by Akari to join a new team after her transfer to Nxled didn’t push through.

Alinsunurin is elated to have the veteran wing spiker at his disposal as she will bring her championship experience from the Chery Tiggo franchise three years ago and talent sharpened by her overseas experience in Japan and Thailand.

READ: PVL: Choco Mucho acquires Dindin Santiago-Manabat from Akari

“She’s a huge help to our team since we lost the Finals in the past conferences due to our depleted roster,” the Choco Mucho coach told Inquirer Sports in Filipino.

The stars have finally aligned for Alinsunurin and Manabat after missing the opportunity to coach the spiker at National University, where he transferred from the women’s to men’s volleyball team when the player made her debut for the Lady Bulldogs.

Although he didn’t have a chance to handle Manabat back then, the star hitter remained close to the NU coaches and Alinsunurin looks to build on their familiarity to unleash the 30-year-old’s vintage form.

READ: PVL: Dindin Manabat all praise for coach, bro-in-law Taka Minowa

“It’s an advantage that we know how she plays and her capabilities that could contribute to our team,” Alinsunurin said.

“Our focus is to bring back her body conditioning and introduce her to our system.”

Manabat, the top 11 scorer in the All-Filipino Conference with a total of 112 points, was a timely boost for Choco Mucho, which will likely miss Alas Pilipinas players Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag.



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The veteran spiker will team up with Deanna Wong, Royse Tubino, Maddie Madayag, Maika Ortiz, Mars Alba, Isa Molde, Kat Tolentino, and Thang Ponce.

PVL: Choco Mucho acquires Dindin Santiago-Manabat from Akari

On: By: admin


FILE–Dindin Santiago Manabat is now with Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the PVL. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Dindin Santiago-Manabat is taking her act to Choco Mucho after her release from Akari ahead of the PVL Reinforced Conference in July.

Multiple sources on Thursday bared to Inquirer Sports that the Flying Titans have acquired Manabat after her switch from Akari to Nxled didn’t push through.

The source, who requested anonymity, didn’t divulge why Manabat requested a release.

READ: PVL: Dindin Manabat all praise for coach, bro-in-law Taka Minowa

Manabat, along with Bang Pineda, Trisha Genesis, and Jaja Maraguinot as well as Roselle Baliton, who is now signed with Galeries Tower, were sent to Nxled, while Akari received Ivy Lacsina, Kamille Cal, Cams Victoria, and Dani Ravena a month ago.

In an attempt to fill in each other’s needs, the sister teams also switched coaches with Taka Minowa now handling the Chargers

After Manabat’s release request was granted, she found her new home at Choco Mucho which will miss former MVP Sisi Rondina and middle blocker Cherry Nunag due to their duties with Alas Pilipinas.

The 30-year-old wing spiker is already training with the Flying Titans, who settled for back-to-back runner-up finishes in the past two All-Filipino Conferences.

Manabat, who has experience playing in Japan and Thailand, has joined her third PVL team as her stay with Akari lasted for more than a year since signing in 2023, ending her seven-year stay with Chery Tiggo, which she led to a breakthrough pro championship in the 2021 bubble with her sister Jaja Santiago.

READ: PVL: Choco Mucho, Alinsunurin hope to overcome stars’ absence

Inquirer sought Akari team manager Mozzy Ravena and Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin for comments but both have yet to respond as of posting time.

In the Collegiate Press Corps awards on Monday evening, Alinsunurin bared the team was eyeing free agents and rookies to fill in the void left by Rondina and Nunag and as Des Cheng and Kat Tolentino continue to recover, but he didn’t disclose names.

Manabat, a former National University star, was the top 11 scorer in the All-Filipino Conference with a total of 112 points as the Chargers couldn’t make it to the semifinals for the past in her four-conference stay but they improved to seventh place in the past two tournaments.

Akari, which hasn’t released a statement about its trade, already played an exhibition game with their new players Lacsina and Cal and returnees Victoria and Ravena. Nxled will bank on Pineda, Genesis, Lycha Ebon, Chiara Permentilla, Jho Maraguinot, and her sister Jaja.



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Nxled holds the fifth pick, followed by Akari, while Choco Mucho will select second to the last from the 47 rookie aspirants, who will have a two-day Draft Combine from June 25 to 26 at Gameville Ballpark in Sheridan, Mandaluyong.

Choco Mucho, Alinsunurin hope to overcome stars’ absence

On: By: admin


Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin in the PVL.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin braces for big adjustments in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference in July as they are set to miss Alas Pilipinas players Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag.

Alinsunurin, who was hailed by the Collegiate Press Corps as the first-ever UAAP Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year on Monday evening, bared some updates ahead of the upcoming second conference, where former MVP Rondina and veteran middle blocker Nunag will miss the action due to their duties with the Philippine women’s volleyball team.

Although the Alas members won’t play in the midseason conference due to the upcoming FIVB Challenger Cup in July and SEA V.League in August, the two-time PVL silver medalist coach is still hoping to get their players back in the latter part of the Reinforced or in the Invitational Conference in September, where the top four of the import-laden tournament will qualify and play with two guest teams.

READ: Dante Alinsunurin sculpts UAAP title after PVL shortcoming

“They won’t be able to play in the [early part of the conference]. That’s for sure. Because of the competitions in July and August. But we’re hoping that once the SEA V.League is done, they can make it at least in the Invitationals,” Alinsunurin told reporters. “We are currently requesting if they can rejoin our team after those leagues.”

For now, Choco Mucho is seeking to sign free agents, which he didn’t disclose, and draft players in the first-ever PVL Rookie Draft, where the Flying Titans will select the 11th pick.

“We’re hoping to sign free agents and use our draft picks to help our team and fill in the void in the second conference,” Alinsunurin said.

READ: Dante Alinsunurin back with PH men’s volleyball team as assistant

“We want to draft the players who can help us. It’s hard to give a specific position because we’re drafting the second to the least but we’re looking for a middle blocker, an outside hitter, and an opposite spiker.”

Alinsunurin, though, bared that Kat Tolentino, who missed the latter part of the All-Filipino Conference due to an auditory condition, is slowly regaining her form, while Des Cheng and Aduke Ogunsanya are still recovering from their ACL injuries.

“Kat has started [training with us]. At least her movement is back to 50 percent and she’s slowly recovering,” he said. “Des has started training but she’s still working her way back, she’s at 30%, while Aduke is still undergoing rehab.”



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