Adamson Lady Falcons: Trust the Process
By Aeron Gabriel V. Pantig
After a heart-breaking three game losing slump to headstart their University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81, the Adamson University Lady Falcons were stunned to adapt a new system after the university administration together with Akari management tapped the services of Palarong Pambansa veteran and AdU consultant Rogelio “Onyok” Getigan as the new women’s volleyball team head coach to replace former Lady Falcons’ mentor Airess Padda.
What was expected
Closing out the previous Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Collegiate Conference with a bronze place finish as four Lady Falcons bag individual awards, Eli Soyud (Best Opposite Spiker), Bernadette Flora (2nd Best Outside Spiker), Tonnie Rose Ponce (Best Libero) and Mary Jane Igao (Best Setter), it is expected for the San Marcelino-based volleybelles to deliver steady performance going into the 81st edition of the UAAP.
However, how the Adamson squad failed to register even a single victory during the PVL open conference shows that the team still has to improve their skills on both ends of the floor.
Starting the season with Coach Air
The Lady Falcons has high hopes entering the season as team captain Eli Soyud is in her top form to play coming from a meniscus tear injury that took her several months of recovery after the surgery. However, the volleybelles’ landed on the bottom of the team standings early in the tournament after suffering consecutive defeats dealt by the UST Golden Tigresses, DLSU Lady Spikers, and UE Lady Warriors respectively.
“So supposed to be, that’s our plan after the season kasi we will be adopting the program of continuity from high school to college. So that’s the long term directions of our volleyball program, so we just made the decision as of now hoping na (that) we will perform [better] for this season, we just made the decision earlier.” said Fr. Aldrin R. Suan, CM, Director of Office for Athletics & Recreation.
Senior middle blocker Joy Dacoron revealed that after the management spoke to coach Air, the team went to a room and everyone became emotional as the American coach bid goodbye to the Lady Falcons.
Air Padda who has been shot calling for the Lady Falcons since Season 79, only registered a 7–24 record. Yet, she left Adamson with a highlight after leading the team to a bronze medal finish in last year’s PVL Collegiate Conference
The Onyok Getigan Era
During his debut game as Adamson head coach, Getigan steered the Lady Falcons to a breakthrough straight set victory against the National University Lady Bulldogs, 25–15, 25–19, 25–22, to break their losing streak and snatched their first win of the season. Coach Onyok expressed his desire to regain the Lady Falcons’ confidence and pointed out that the adjustment period is not that difficult as he was already part of the coaching staff before he got the head coaching job.
“Gusto ko silang mag-champion talaga. Yun ang goal ko. ‘Yun talaga ang gusto ko talaga. Minsan hindi ko binanggit pero yun ang laging nasa ulo ko (I really want them to be the champions. That’s my goal. That’s what I really want. I may not mention it sometimes but that’s what’s always in my head),” Getigan shared in the post-game interview.
What went wrong
Consistency problems has plagued the Lady Falcons’ performance on both ends of the floor. After a heart-breaking five-set thriller defeat over the UST Tigresses during the UAAP opening week, the Lady Falcons failed to bounce back that eventually led to a 0–3 standing before winning against NU. However, Adamson is not really dominated during their losses. In fact, there were times that they even have the control of the game but losses grip to it after being shut down for few possessions.
The San Marcelino-based volleybelles had a respectable finish for the season after clobbering the tournament favorites UP Lady Maroons in straight sets, 25–20, 25–23, 25–19. During the post-game interview, Coach Onyok pointed out discipline to be one of the factors that held back the team to execute their plans and that game simply shows what the Lady Falcons can do if each players would do the roles designated to them
“Sobrang saya dahil sa wakas nasunod na sistema. Malalim na pagsunod sa coach andun talaga and then lahat nag-step up ultimo mga pinasok kong rookie nagbigay ng puntos talaga. (Very happy because at last, the game system was followed. Great obedience to the coach was really there and everybody step up, even the rookies that I allowed to enter the game contributed with points)” said Getigan.
This season might just be a learning process for the Lady Falcons. They may not have play in the championship or even enter the Final Four, but the degree of difficulty to adapt a certain program in the middle of a season and be able to grow in that system every game is already exceptional for the Lady Falcons.
As new set of rookies from Coach Onyok’s Kings Montessori School such as Louie Romero, Rizza Andrea Cruz, Antonette Adolfo, Stacey Lopez, and Lucille May Almonte, are bound to enter the Falcons’ Nest next season, Adamson will gear up for upcoming preseason tournaments such as the UniGames and PVL Collegiate Conference. Coach Onyok Getigan is a veteran coach that led KMS to three consecutive Palarong Pambansa championships that’s why it is undeniable that he can bring out the best out of the Lady Falcons.
