JAKARTA – Dawn Macandili may not have joined the training camp in Japan, but for national head coach Shaq Delos Santos, her talent alone has made up for that absence.
The 22-year-old La Salle libero rejoined the national squad here after missing out on the opportunity to train with the team for two weeks in preparation for the Asian Games.
But Delos Santos said her absence is understandable since it is due to her academics with La Salle.
“Mas maganda kung nandoon siya pero siyempre studies ‘yun,” said Delos Santos following Friday night’s practice at a practice facility here. “Napakalaking halaga para sa kanya ‘yun personally (studies).”
Delos Santos, however, knows what the Rebisco-backed Philippine volleyball team will get out of Macandili, who in 2017 won the second best libero in the 2017 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship.
“Pero knowing Dawn and siyempre sila naman, matagal na sila magkakasama, ‘yung quality ng laro niya, parang nagpunta na rin siya doon,” said Delos Santos.
Despite Macandili’s absence, Delos Santos said the F2 Logistics libero has also done her homework back home when he was not with the national team for training.
“Sabi nga namin, wag lang siya mawawala sa kundisyon which is nakiki-training naman siya sa La Salle so parang we know na definitely, magpe-perform siya ng maayos,” said Delos Santos.
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