From racking up collegiate championships with La Salle to helping F2 Logistics build a dynasty in the Philippine Super Liga, Dawn Macandili has definitely played a vital role for every team that she has played for.
But for her, none of it would have been possible if not for La Salle assistant coach Benson Bocboc who played a major part in her development as a floor defender.
“Si Coach Boc actually nga yung game-changer ko,” shared the 5-foot Macandili during Volleyball DNA hosted by Denden Lazaro and Anton Roxas.
Bocboc joined La Salle in time for their preparation for Season 78 – just right after their consecutive losses to Ateneo in the finals of Seasons 76 and 77 – and dedicated most of his time polishing the team’s floor defense.
“From first year to second year, yun nga laging with the drills laging shared lahat.
“‘Pag defense shared for everyone, not much [in] individual skills. So yung mga libero, nung dumating si coach Boc, sobrang na-focus niya yung libero kasi talagang ang style niya is Japanese training,” recalled Macandili.
Bocboc, who also serves as the team’s head statistician, was able to give different approaches to Macandili which made her understand the different facets of the game and improve more.
“Doon ko na-realize na volleyball is very technical. ‘Di lang basta na marunong kang mag-receive, marunong kang mag-dig pass. Hindi, ‘O, kung marunong kang mag-receive kailangan ganito ang form mo, kailangan ganito kababa, mga ganoon.’
“Nag-iba talaga ang mindset ko nun sa volleyball na parang ang lawak niya na ang dami ko pang ‘di alam. Doon ako na-engganyo, na I want to learn more, more, more. I want to learn more talaga,” added the 24-year-old libero.
In just his first year with the Lady Spikers, Bocboc did his magic and transformed Macandili into one of the best liberos not just in the UAAP but in the entire country.
Macandili proved to be a vital cog in La Salle’s comeback season, winning the Best Receiver and Best Receiver awards in Season 78 to put the Lady Spikers back to the top of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
But it was in the Season 80 of the league that proud daughter of Batangas etched her name in history by becoming the first libero to win the Finals MVP award while also capping off her collegiate career with a rare three-peat.
She also became the first defensive specialist to win an MVP crown when she claimed the award in the 2016 Philippine Super Liga All-Filipino Conference.
Macandili’s greatness did not just end locally, copping the 2017 second best libero in the Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship. She also bagged the same award in the second leg of the 2019 ASEAN Grand Prix.
And again, none of these would have been possible if not for Bocboc’s guidance.
