Dindin Manabat to play for Torray Arrows in Japan league

MANILA, Philippines – Jaja Santiago and Marck Espejo won’t be the only Filipinos in the Japan V.Premier League, after all.

Santiago’s sister — Dindin Manabat — is set to see action for Toray Arrows when the prestigious Japanese club league opens shop next month.

Although terms of her contract were not revealed, Santiago already left last week for Japan to join the club in its training in Seoul.

She was also with the Arrows when they clashed with one of South Korea’s top clubs — Gyeongbuk Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-pass — in a friendly recently.

In a previous statement, her sister Foton team manager Diane Santiago confirmed that Manabat would also play in Japan, but refused to divulge her team.

She, however, made an assurance that the Tornadoes are solidly behind her despite the fact that she and Jaja would miss the entire All-Filipino Conference.

“We wish them luck. The Foton management supports both of them all the way.”

Manabat would be the third Filipino seeing action in Japan’s topnotch league this season.

Jaja Santiago would be campaigning for Ageo Medics while Marck Espejo will play for Oita Miyoshi.

Aside from them, two other Thais in Hattaya Bamrungsuk and Chatchu-on Moksri will also serve as imports in the most prestigious league in Japan.

Bamrungsuk will see action for JT Marvelous while Moksri will campaign for PFU Blue Cats.

Toray is a club overflowing with championship tradition.

It has four V.Premier League title under its belt with the last coming in 2012 with Olympian Saori Kimura at the helm before moving to VakifBank in the equally prestigious Turkish League.

It came up with a sixth-place finish for the past two seasons and with the 6-foot-2 Manabat at the middle, things could be looking bright.