IT was a breakthrough bronze-winning campaign in UAAP Season 85 followed by a promising preseason run for the red-hot Adamson Lady Falcons in the leadup to Season 86.
The bright fire was momentarily doused, however, by a huge blow dealt to the San Marcelino side after its senior ace Lorene Toring suffered an ACL injury back in January, putting a tough end to her UAAP career.
But after such a troubling start to the new year, veteran spiker Lucille Almonte, who understands the challenge of sitting out an entire year to an ACL injury all too well, is ready to shrug off Adamson's recent woes and enter the new season on a clean slate.
READ: Injured Lorene Toring to reunite with ex-Adamson stars at Farm Fresh
"Sobrang laki po [ng magiging role ko] kasi isa ako sa mga naiwan from last season. Kailangan ko talaga mag-step up at kailangan ko talagang i-guide nang maayos 'yung team. Sobrang blessed naman ako dahil andito yung mga coaches ko para i-guide ako," Almonte said.
"Siyempre tough at first ['yung pagkawala ni Lorene] kasi nakita namin kung paano siya sa training namin, pero wala na kaming magagawa doon. Kailangan naming mag-move forward. Ganu'n talaga, aksidente eh. Kailangan mag-move forward at lumaban talaga kami," she added.
New leaders, from the sidelines to the court
With the likes of ex-Adamson star trio Trisha Tubu, Kate Santiago, and Louie Romero, as well as former head coach Jerry Yee, conniving in the pros at Farm Fresh, changes were aplenty for the Lady Falcons.
From one ex-Adamson trio to another, three of the school's homegrown volleyball talents now stand at the forefront of the squad's coaching staff led by JP Yude, Bang Pineda, and Leo Miranda.
Yude, who'll be calling the shots in women's volleyball for the first time, heavily values the Lady Falcons' morale-boosting preseason breakthroughs against pro-league opposition as added fuel to the fire of seeking another podium finish come Season 86.
"Nakita nila ‘yung potential nila na if they really need to win talaga at nandun ‘yung thinking na gusto talaga nila manalo, kaya nila eh. Sabi ko nga, walang problema ‘yung skills natin. It’s how we think lagi kasi ‘yun ‘yung ma-popossess natin kapag naglalaro tayo."
Yude added: Sometimes, bumababa sila but I still encourage them na kailangan niyong lumaban kasi pagdating sa UAAP, mas malalakas pa ‘yung mga makakalaban natin."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
