Looking at the Lady Falcons
come-from-behind PVL win over UP
by rick olivares
It’s a pre-season win for the
Adamson Lady Falcons, a five-setter come-from-behind triumph over UP (17-25,
25-21, 19-25, 25-19, 15-9) in the Premier Volleyball League’s Collegiate
Conference last Monday, September 4. And that has to feel very good.
This is a team in search of wins
and the confidence to propel them out of the dregs of UAAP volleyball
mediocrity. The Lady Falcons could have folded as UP took a 2-1 set lead and
made a game of it in the fourth before falling,
During the last UAAP season, they
lost two players who opted not to play after the off-court concerns that
plagued them the previous 12 months. They garnered one win - a season-ending win
over UE in their last match of the year.
Christine Soyud who transferred
from La Salle over a year ago led the way with 27 huge points. Her presence
helped give Airess Padda a few more weapons in Adamson’s battle for
respectability. Jema Galanza and Joy Dacoron also scored in double figures (18
and 13 respectively).
How huge was Soyud’s presence?
She not only devastating on offense but she was also solid on defense. She
registered four block points to backstop Dacoron. They’ll need May Roque to return
to form for more offense and defense in the middle. She wasn’t fielded at all
in yesterday’s match.
Despite the win, Padda has to be
concerned about their consistency, killer instinct, and floor defense. The
Adamson teams prior to the last five years were known for their stinginess on
defense at the net and on the floor. They didn’t win any UAAP titles but were
always in the thick of it. And Coach Air has consistently harped about playing
with hunger and desire.
Gone unnoticed in the win were
the contributions of Fen Emnas who returned to the line-up after sitting out
last season and chalking up some big game experience while setting for the
Bureau of Customs Transformers in the final V-League season. Emnas registered
43 excellent sets to the 29 of her UP counterpart Rose Mary Cailing (who we
also like).
On that note about setters,
Chumcee Caole of Adamson wasn’t in the line-up. And UP played their much-hyped
Fil-Am setter Cynthia Escutin who saw sporadic action (as this is part of her
learning curve). Last year’s setter for UP, Arielle Estranero returned to her
libero spot of two seasons ago while Justin Dorog switched back to her utility
spot. Not in the Collegiate Conference line-up is Mae Basarte who lost her
setting job to Estranero last year.
Speaking of UP, we learned that
head coach Jerry Yee resigned last Thursday leaving assistant Katrina De Lara
in charge. Word is there has been friction between team backers who cried out
for change after the Lady Maroons’ slide in the last UAAP season. Where that
leaves this team that is also adjusting from the graduation of three of its
stalwarts to the shifting of players around is anyone’s guess at this point.
Whatever it is at this stage,
there’s time to adjust. They have to be concerned with the loss pre-season or
not. It was atypical of their meltdowns of the past two years. The talent is
there. The Lady Maroons’ young core of Isa Molde, Diana Carlos, Maristela
Layug, Dorog, Estranero, and Cailing will get better.
Right now it’s all mental. Some
big wins here and there should help them.
If anything, history has taught
us that this young team that has taken its licks should get better soon. How
soon is now is once more anyone’s guess.
No comments:
Post a Comment