DON'T look now, but a new UAAP contender has officially arrived in Adamson.
It came in the most convincing fashion as well, with the Lady Falcons defeating Far Eastern University in straight sets and pushing the Lady Tamaraws to the brink of elimination.
READ: Nitura shows Adamson way past FEU, back into Final Four
And while Adamson may be a younger, up-and-coming team compared to its more experienced potential playoff opponents like La Salle and National U, shot-caller JP Yude is giving them a good a shot as any.
“For me naman, all throughout the days, months, and years na pinagtrabuhan namin, I know naman na doon sa ganung sitwasyon, nire-ready kami ni Lord,” he told SPIN.ph. “Hindi naman kami bigla papasok sa Final Four kaya dapat mag-ready kami."
"Pero siyempre, we always want this.”
This, being a return to the postseason with a 9-5 record secured by three straight victories at the expense of fellow playoff hopefuls.
And indeed, top gun Shai Nitura and much-improved Fhei Sagaysay and Frances Mordi were all ready, as they took care of business against University of Santo Tomas, the University of the Philippines, and the Lady Tamaraws.
Ever ready, energizer
Though the Lady Falcons effectively rose to the occasion and proved they belong in the playoff picture, even their shot-caller would be the first to admit they remain far from perfect.
Still, this playoff run is the fulfillment of all the promise they showed a year ago, when Nitura was breaking rookie records left and right, while the likes of Sagaysay and Mordi were getting their feet wet in the next level.
“For me, number one thing, yung character talaga nila, on how nila na-manage yung every situation na hindi naiinis, na nagiging patient sila, nagiging understanding sila sa isa't-isa," he explained.
"Kasi skills, nade-develop every time, pero yung character at attitude nila, doon ko sila pinu-push lalo.”
Of course, Yude knows a thing or two about breaking down walls and rushing towards milestones in San Marcelino, having coached the Baby Falcons to a historic championship with a core powered by Nitura and Sagaysay.
Now they're a playoff team once more, this time in the seniors level, Yude also would be the first to remind that Adamson's continued success would ride on their continued maturity.
“Ang ganoong sitwasyon is always manggagaling talaga sa mga coaches, on how we encourage them every time. So kung paano namin sila patibayin because sometimes nandun sila sa ganung moments, paano kami mag-step in doon sa world nila," he said.
“We know na we are a young team right now, pero I know that nothing is impossible pagdating sa Panginoon basta tinatrabaho nila.”
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