Nakhon Ratchasima’s Ced Domingo during the Thailand Volleyball League.–Photo from Nakhon Ratchasima
MANILA, Philippines — Ced Domingo helped Nakhon Ratchasima retain its Thailand Volleyball League crown before joining the Akari Chargers in practice this week.
The Filipino middle blocker and Nakhon Ratchasima swept Diamond Food, 25-18, 25-17, 25-18, in the final game on Sunday.
Domingo is set to train with Akari this week but it is still uncertain if she will be available in the Chargers’ first 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference match against Cignal on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 24-year-old Domingo, who decided to sign with the Thai team last year, was instrumental in her first overseas stint as the Cat Devil finished the elimination round with a 10-2 record as the No. 2 seed behind Diamond Food.
Nakhon Ratchasima swept the semifinal round-robin, beating Diamond Food, Supremer Chonburi E-tech, and Kku Khonkean Star Volleyball Club.
Domingo became the latest Filipino to win a title overseas, joining Jaja Santiago, who won the Japan V.Cup championship with her former club Ageo Medics in 2021, and Bryan Bagunas after he led Win Streak to a dominant title run last year in the Top Volleyball League in Taiwan.
Nakhon Ratchasima had three individual awardees with Kotoe Inoue emerging as the MVP and Best Libero, Sasipapron Janthawisut bagging the Best Outside Hitter, Best Scorer, and Best Server, and Sirima Manakij winning the Best Setter award.
Coach Tai Bundit, the former Ateneo and Creamline coach, led Nakhon Ratchasima to a championship run last year. Mylene Paat and Dindin Santiago-Manabat also played as imports for the club and won bronze in the 2022 season.
The former PVL Invitational Conference MVP, who won four championships with Creamline, decided to have a fresh start with Akari this year.