Seasoned libero Dawn Catindig is harnessing her vocal presence to lead the youth-infused Alas Pilipinas in the upcoming AVC Challenge Cup.
During a practice session of the Alas Pilipinas at the Gameville Ball Park on Friday, Dawn Macandili-Catindig’s voice rang out with clarity and purpose.
The seasoned libero was not just going through the drills, as she was also assisting captain Jia De Guzman by issuing directives and calling out cues to ensure the team stayed focused and coordinated.
The presence of Catindig for the national team is a testament to her commitment to leadership, a role she has embraced wholeheartedly since joining Cignal in the Premier Volleyball League.
Now, as she takes on national duties once more, the 27-year-old stalwart is determined to bring that same leadership to Alas.
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“Ako naman naging natural na sakin ‘yung pagiging vocal sa loob. Basta nasa loob ako, I try to communicate with my teammates. Siyempre, lalo na dahil lagi ako nasa likod, and ‘yung floor defense [ako ‘yung nagle-lead],” Catindig told One Sports.
As one of the few veterans with international experience, Catindig understood the crucial role of guiding a team brimming with young talent.
The moment she saw the youth-infused lineup of Alas Pilipinas, the former La Salle standout knew she had to shoulder a significant portion of the leadership duties alongside De Guzman.
“In-embrace na rin namin kasi noong nakita namin ‘yung lineup parang sabi namin, ‘Sino ‘yung seniors dito?’ Tapos nagulat kami na kami na pala ‘yung seniors tapos puro bata na. Talagang tina-try lang namin ‘yung best namin na kung anong ibigay na role sa amin,” Catindig shared.
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She then continued, “Si Jia nga captain, so talagang ginagampanan niya ‘yung role niya to lead ‘yung team. Ako, from the sidelines, tinutulungan ko rin siya and even inside the court, kailangan may connection din ‘yung libero and setter. ‘Yun, gawin ko lang ‘yung role ko na mataas ‘yung bola para magawa niya ng maayos ‘yung trabaho niya.”
At the end of the day, Catindig, who has been representing the country on the international stage since 2017, relishes the opportunity to once again compete for national glory.
“Siyempre honored naman lagi na masama sa pool, and very excited kasi siyempre ngayon puro bata naman ‘yung kasama ko, and one of the seniors na ako. Very excited,” she said.