Unable to handle the administrative pressure, Adamson alumni and long-time member of the coaching staff Sherwin Menses resigned as head coach of the Adamson University Lady Falcons.
The fallout of his departure was apparent in Adamson’s straight-set loss to the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Lady Falcons brandished temporary tattoos on their left shoulders; a star with the letter “S” in the middle.
“Si Ate Erika (Alkuino) ‘yung nakaisip (ng tattoo). Pinapakita lang namin na inaalay namin ‘yung game namin kay coach (Sherwin),” AdU team captain Mylene Paat told the media after the match.
“Nirespeto namin ‘yung desisyon niya. Sabi niya hindi niya naman kami iiwan, nandiyan pa rin siya palagi,” Paat expressed about Meneses’ departure adding that Meneses told the team right before he passed his resignation letter.
“Walang sama ng loob kasi masaya si coach doon, masaya na rin kami para sa kanya,” she answered when asked if the team had any hard feelings towards Meneses.
Left to face the rigorous UAAP tourney without the man she considered a father-figure, Paat looks to keep leading her team through the very pressure that caused Meneses to resign.
“Nandoon pa rin ‘yun (pressure) pero kailangan namin labanan. ‘Yun na lang ‘yung tanging puhunan namin – labanan kung anuman ‘yung pressure na ‘yun,” Paat said.
As for their new head coach, Domingo Custodio, Paat is first to show her team how to immediately adapt.
“Kinausap ko na lang ‘yung team na kailangan namin tanggapin kung sinuman ‘yung ilagay sa head coach, kailangan namin pakinggan. Pagdating naman sa game, kami-kami na lang ‘yung magtutulungan sa loob ng court,” she stated.
The thought of Meneses’ departure still left Paat teary-eyed after the interview.
“Mahirap talagang tanggapin na wala talaga si Coach. Pero magiging ok din ang lahat, naniniwala ako doon,” she said as her eyes began welling tears. “Gusto pa rin namin lumaban, hanggang sa huli lalaban pa rin kami.”
