CHOCO Mucho continued piecing together its retooled roster by landing two former Cignal talents in decorated veteran libero Dawn Macandili-Catindig and Jewel Encarnacion.
The pair became the seventh and eighth former Super Spikers to find new homes since the franchise's leave of absence, following Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos at Capital1, Gel Cayuna and Jackie Acuña at Nxled, Erin Pangilinan at Creamline, and Tin Tiamzon at Akari.
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These additions immediately deepen both the Flying Titans' offense and floor defense, as Catindig, a national team veteran and former Cignal captain, now joins forces with four-time Best Libero Thang Ponce to form one of the league’s strongest defensive tandems.
Encarnacion, meanwhile, arrives fresh off an emotionally draining transition period following the Super Spikers' sudden exit.
The former University of the Philippines star admitted that while rumors surrounding the on-hiatus franchise initially surfaced during the All-Filipino Conference, the playeres themselves remained locked in on chasing a title rather than entertaining the uncertainty.
Only after the conference did reality slowly begin sinking in, especially once management remained silent for days regarding their future.
“We weren't receiving any news yet from the management denying or confirming. So we were bracing ourselves and wishing that there's gonna be a team that's gonna get the whole Cignal family, if ever,” she said.
“Kasi we really believe that the chemistry we had, the chemistry we built, it's really something that we should really hold on (to). Kumapit lang kami sa isa't-isa and really gave our all and we saw what we can achieve with that.”
Hope until the end
Encarnacion shared that, initially, all of Cignal hoped to stay intact, but with no new team emerging to absorb it as a whole, the players eventually had to begin exploring separate paths.
“As athletes, as professional players, we're also employees, it's also our job. And it's really making us feel anxious knowing that at the moment we were jobless,” she said.
“With nine teams left, we know every position was already filled and the benches were deep. So I decided after two weeks, I think I should start exploring for myself. And that's how I landed here in Choco Mucho. My new family.”
Now joining a loaded Flying Titans squad, Encarnacion hopes to bring the same grit and discipline that helped turn the Super Spikers into a contender.
“Coming into Choco Mucho, I really want to spend more time with them to build chemistry, learn their system, adapt to their system, and continue with my work ethic,” she said.
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