Manabat, Paat, arrival just in time for PVL title defense

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Mylene Paat already arrived in the Philippines and are ready to help the Cherry Tiggo Crossovers defend their crown in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference.

The veteran duo is fresh from their stint with Nakhon Ratchasima at the Thailand Volleyball League and helped the club to a bronze medal finish.

Manabat was a late mid-season acquisition for Nakhon while Paat was present from the start of the season and even bagged the tournament’s Best Scorer award.

Their reinforcement will be much-needed by Cherry Tiggo with several squads already boosting their rosters with off-season acquisitions and the commitment of one of the best clubs in the Philippine Superliga (PSL), the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.

Cherry Tiggo had a tough road to the championship during the last conference and needed to take down the young and feisty Choco Mucho Flying Titans led by Bea De Leon, Kat Tolentino, and Deanna Wong before punching the finals ticket.

During the grand finals, the Crossovers lit it up and ousted Alyssa Valdez and the Creamline Cool Smashers in one of the most highly-anticipated finals series in the PVL.

Manabat and Paat will seek to lead the squad with their superstar Jaja Santiago still in Japan and is playing as an Asian import in the Japan Volleyball League.

The Crossovers will be taking on the Cignal squad in their debut while the Cool Smashers will be testing the revamped PLDT team led by Mika Reyes.