Thursday, August 18, 2016

Macandili Snag Historic MVP Award

Dawn Macandili, libero, volleyball
Dawn Macandili, libero, volleyball

Right after the media interview, Libero Dawn Macandili hurriedly exited out of the FilOil Flying V Centre press room holding a bouquet of flowers on one hand and a shiny silver plaque on the other. At the door, Macandili’s parents greeted her with a hug.

“You made history anak,” Macandili’s father told her daughter.

Yes, Macandili had made history. Great liberos have come and gone in volleyball but very few were impactful and be named MVP. Macandili is the first in a long line of legendary local liberos – which includes Lizlee Ann Gata-Pantone, Melissa Gohing, Denden Lazaro – to be named MVP, the most important player on a championship team. The 5’0’’ Macandili may not be as tall as her teammates, but she was the catalyst to F2 Logistics’ run to the PSL AFC title. Macandili had dazzled spectators with near omnipresence on the court; diving, leaping, and belly-flopping to save points. Although her teammates Ara Galang, Aby MaraƱo and Kim Dy did the spiking, Macandili made sure most of the first touches were clean and on-point, enough for them to get a good attack.

The longtime La Sallian had always been a libero. She won a title in the UAAP Juniors division then took home a Seniors championship just this past season; both she won with decorated mentor, Ramil de Jesus.

No comments:

Post a Comment