Player Profile Series: Dindin Santiago’s Power Across Leagues
NAME: Aleona Denise “Dindin” Antonio Santigo-Manabat
DATE OF BIRTH: September 26, 1993
SCHOOL: National University
POSITION: Opposite Spiker (OP)
HEIGHT: 184 CM
SOCIAL MEDIA: @dindinquickersantiago
Aleona Denise "Dindin" Antonio Santiago-Manabat stands as one of Philippine volleyball’s most prominent and enduring figures.
Born on September 26, 1993, Dindin carved her legacy through exceptional skill, unwavering resilience, and a decorated career that has spanned collegiate, professional, and international play.
Hailing from a family of athletes—her brother, Axel Leonard, played for the National University (NU) Bulldogs and her sister Jaja Santiago is a standout in Japan’s V.League—Dindin's journey has been a blend of talent, determination, and passion for the game.
She began her collegiate volleyball career with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses before transferring to the NU Lady Bulldogs, where she became team captain and led the squad with distinction.
Dindin’s collegiate years also saw her rise in the Shakey’s V-League, where she served as a guest player for several teams, delivering crucial performances in championship and bronze medal matches.
Notably, she helped Smart-Maynilad Net Spikers secure a runner-up finish in the 2013 SVL Open Conference and aided PLDT Home Telpad Turbo Boosters in clinching bronze during the 11th season.
Her professional debut in 2014 marked a historic milestone—she was the first overall draft pick in the Philippine Super Liga (PSL), joining the Petron Blaze Spikers. Her rookie year culminated in a championship win during the 2014 PSL Grand Prix.
Throughout her club career, she suited up for various top-tier teams, including PLDT, Petron, RC Cola-Army, Foton, Chery Tiggo, and international clubs like Japan’s Toray Arrows and Kurobe AquaFairies, and Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima.
Dindin temporarily stepped away from volleyball in 2015 due to pregnancy but returned with renewed strength. She played alongside her sister Jaja at Foton, earning a bronze finish in the 2017 PSL Grand Prix.
More recently, she joined the Akari Chargers in 2023 and then the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in 2024, continuing to contribute her experience and leadership on and off the court.
Over the years, Santiago-Manabat has amassed numerous individual accolades.
She was named “Best Blocker” of the Shakey’s V-League 8th season, “Best Attacker” in UAAP Season 76, and clinched three MVP titles across different V-League seasons. She also received Best Scorer and Best Server distinctions.
In the PSL, she earned “2nd Best Middle Blocker” (2014), “1st Best Middle Blocker” (2015), and “Best Opposite Spiker” (2019).
In 2021, she was recognized as the “2nd Best Outside Spiker” at the PNVF Champions League for Women.
Her club achievements are equally impressive, including championships in the 2014 and 2015 PSL Grand Prix and All-Filipino Conferences, and another title in the 2016 Grand Prix with Foton.
She helped secure the 2021 PVL Open Conference championship with Chery Tiggo, and earned multiple bronze and runner-up finishes in both domestic and international tournaments. Her stint with Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima in the 2021–2022 Thailand League also ended with a bronze medal.
With a career defined by perseverance, versatility, and excellence, Dindin Santiago-Manabat remains a symbol of strength and inspiration in Philippine volleyball—a player whose journey transcends leagues and borders, and whose impact continues to shape the sport for future generations.
