IN HER first year in the UAAP, Louie Romero is primed to turn the Adamson Lady Falcons into a final four contender — after the team finished in last place the past year.
As Romero very well knows, it's an enormous responsibility for a rookie.
“Dapat alam mo ‘yung [role na] gagampanan mo, 'yung pinaka-role mo na mula training pa lang, all-out ka na. Kumbaga sa bus, ikaw ‘yung magda-drive at dapat hindi ka sumuko para sa teammates mo,” she told SPIN Life at practice.
Eager to start anew, the San Marcelino-based squad has undergone a series of changes in their coaching system before the beginning of the season. They named Lerma Giron as their new head coach in August 2019, and acquired multi-titled coach Tai Bundit as training consultant.
“Marami talagang nagbago sa amin sa pagdating ni coach Tai. Kumbaga na-push kami to our limits, [pero] nakita namin na may kaya pa kaming gawin,” explained sophomore spiker Trisha Genesis.
The team also tapped Mozzy Ravena to be the team consultant in September of last year.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old setter confesses to feeling the pressure, but knows she needs to rally herself before she can rally the team.
“Minsan gusto ko na sumuko , pero naiisip ko na nandito na ako, bakit pa ako susuko. Iniisip ko lang ‘yung purpose ko kung bakit ako nandito sa Adamson, at kung para kanino ako lumalaban,” the former Kings' Montessori star said.
Answering her own question, she said: “Para sa team ko, na very hardworking and all-out.”
For his part, Coach Lerma felt that Louie is more than capable of her leadership role, even if she's one of the youngest in the team.
"Lagi kaming nag-uusap niyan ni Louie, kung paano namin i-a-approach 'yung team, and 'yung team naman namin, mababait lahat 'yan. Hindi problema dito ang seniority kaya walang problema," she said.
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