In signing with Cignal, Dawn lets go of familiarity in favor of a true fresh start... but it's not like the HD Spikers are complete strangers.
Miss Everywhere is out to explore a whole new world, or a whole new system at least.
After almost eight years with the now-disbanded F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, multi-titled libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig has chosen to don the red and black of the Cignal HD Spikers.
She was the first domino to fall in what has become an incredible PVL off season, signing with Cignal late last year. Dawn was also the first former Cargo Mover to find a new PVL home.
Why Cignal though?
"Siguro unang-una, dahil ang tagal na namin sila nakalaban, sobrang hirap nilang kalaban. Very high offense and defense, talagang na-challenge kami," Macandili-Catindig told One Sports' The Game on Monday.
"Gusto ko yung ‘never give up’ attitude, and that’s number one for me--yung attitude ng team."
Through their many battles over the years, it was ironically the HD Spikers that denied Dawn her final medal shot as a Cargo Mover. Cignal beat F2 Logistics in four sets for the podium in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference. The Cargo Movers were no more after one more tournament.
The 27 year-old libero has been the main defensive specialist for F2 Logistics since 2016, achieving most of her awards in the Philippine Super Liga, along with side stops in Philippine National Volleyball Champions League. She was also a decorated DLSU Lady Spiker under coach Ramil de Jesus in her time in the UAAP.
In signing with Cignal, Dawn lets go of familiarity in favor of a true fresh start, but the star they call "Miss Everywhere" is embracing the challenge.
"I think for me looking back, this is a challenge to go out of my comfort zone and to explore kung ano pa ba ang kaya ko without the support of the system that I’ve been used to," she said.
But while that may be true, the HD Spikers are no total strangers.
“Syempre si Coach Shaq (delos Santos) and si ate Ces (Molina), yung mga nakasama ko na sa national team. I know how they work and 'yung work ethic nila. So talagang 'yun 'yung two factors that made me decide with Cignal," the star libero explained.
"Based nga dun sa national team , 'yung work ethic ni Coach Shaq and how he makes in-game adjustments, sobrang comfortable ako and that's what I want in a coach," Macandili-Catindig added.
Check out the summary of PVL off-season moves here.