By: Lance Agcaoili - @inquirerdotnet
Dawn Macandili Catindig Alas Pilipinas AVC Challenge Cup
Dawn Macandili-Catindig during Alas Pilipinas’ bronze medal game against Australia in the AVC Challenge Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.neet
MANILA, Philippines — Dawn Macandili-Catindig offered Alas Pilipinas’ historic bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup to the past Philippine women’s volleyball team players, who have been part of the program’s ups and downs.
The veteran national team libero was one of the two remaining members of the 2018 Asian Games team with captain and setter Jia De Guzman ushering in the Alas era of the national team.
Catindig and De Guzman provided great leadership to the young Nationals and made history by winning bronze in the country’s successful Challenge Cup hosting — the program’s first AVC medal since 1961.
Although only two of them were the holdovers of the past national squads, Catindig still credited the current team’s success to the former players since she started representing the country in 2017.
“Para ito sa mga ate ko na nag simula ng Women’s Volleyball sa Pilipinas at sa mga nakasama ko sa NT, sa hirap at ginhawa. Salamat sa mga pangarap niyo dahil ito’y patuloy na umaagos sa puso ko at patuloy ko kayong ipaglalaban,” wrote Catindig, who teamed up with former national stars Alyssa Valdez, Jaja Santiago, Aby Maraño, Jovelyn Gonzaga, and Mylene Paat in the past.
“Salamat sa mga taong dumating sa buhay ko dahil patuloy akong natututo at nai-inspire dahil iisa lang ang ating pangarap. I love working with people who are as passionate and hardworking,” she added.
Catindig protected the country’s floor with Jen Nierva as Alas swept Pool A for a breakthrough semifinal appearance in the AVC but got swept by finalist Kazakhstan. On Wednesday, the Nationals completed their historic run with a bronze-clinching win over Australia.
Despite going through a lot of heartbreaks as a national team player with three straight fourth-place endings in the past Southeast Asian Games, the Cignal HD Spiker was fulfilled after a great run with her younger teammates like Angel Canino, Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma, Eya Laure, and Sisi Rondina.
“Thank You [Lord] for giving me the strength to continue despite the heartbreaks. Every year, You give me renewed hope that it’s gonna be different. That I might make a difference,” said Catindig, who thanked all her teammates, coaches, their fans, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, and her mother team, Cignal.
“Thank you cap, (Jia) for steering the ship. You keep us grounded! I got yo.
Catindig is part of the PNVF’s long-term plan as president Tats Suzara expressed his intention to keep this bronze medal team and pool members Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Casiey Dongallo.
The national team mainstay believes the best is yet to come after showing a lot of promises despite the limited time to prepare.
“We started with no expectations, less than a week to train together, and a challenge in front of us. I’m so proud of all these people who embraced their roles and did it with all their heart FOR THE TEAM. That is why it was easy to play with a light heart because everyone was working hard and at the same time respecting each other’s space,” Catindig said.
