By MARK REY MONTEJO
Not too long ago, Dawn Catindig was one of the premier liberos in Asia and probably the most skilled player in the Philippine women’s volleyball team.
Though Catindig remains quick and dependable, the country is blessed to have an emerging star in Justine Jazareno.
She caught the attention of everyone with her awesome reflexes and having a “nose” for the ball during 5th SEA Women’s V.League Leg 2 that ended on Sunday, Aug. 10, in Vietnam.
Small wonder, the 25-year-old former La Salle star won the Libero Award as she helped Alas Pilipinas clinch its fourth consecutive bronze medal in the regional tiff with a 25-17, 25-17, 28-26 win over Indonesia at the Ninh Binh Gymnasium.
That made her became the third Filipina to win the Libero honor after Catindig (2019) and Kyla Atienza (2022).
She also became the second Filipina to bag an individual in this year’s edition as Angel Canino was named as the Best Outside Spiker in the first leg.
Another reason to celebrate as Alas snared the bronze after sweeping Indonesia, 25-17, 25-17, 28-26, last Sunday, Aug. 10, at the Ninh Binh Gymnasium in Vietnam.
It was a bittersweet moment as well for the FIlipina hitters as Alyssa Solomon hurt her left knee in the first set of that match where she stretchered out off the court. As of now, there are no further details regarding her injury.
The Philippines closed out its run with a 1-2 slate at third place in both legs where its wins were at the expense of the Indonesians. It had also shown great resistance against Leg 1 titlist Thailand and Leg 2 eventual champion and host Vietnam by taking a set against the regional powerhouse teams.
And those outings showed it could have a good potential for the PH crew to break its podium drought in the Southeast Asian Games which its 33rd edition fires off this December in Thailand.
