After numerous, heartbreaking stands, the Adamson University Lady Falcons finally bowed out of Final Four contention last Wednesday.
Like many other times this season, the Lady Falcons looked strong for much of the match against the defending champions De La Salle University Lady Spikers, only to crumble under the weight of their own errors and miscues.
It was these missed opportunities that Admason’s head coach Airess Padda was left to rue. Approaching reporters in a somber mood, the American could not help but feel regret.
“To sum it up, it was basically talked about how many opportunities we had this season to make our team succesful, to make the school proud, to make our management proud and to get into the Final Four. We just felt that every opportunity we have, we just didn’t grab it,” lamented the youthful mentor.
Adamson had numerous five-setter matches this season. They also led 2-1 in sets for most of the time. But their inexperience showed — an obstacle that their incredibly talented lineup could not overcome.
“They just threw it away.
“Going into this season, we knew that this was going to be hard, it didn’t matter who we added to the team, we were still going to be the least experienced, having come from a program where a winning culture wasn’t really established in the last five years. The team was used to losing,” shared Padda.
“I apologized to everyone because ultimately it was my fault.
“I’m the leader of the pack and I failed everybody. That’s something that I’m gonna have to learn from this season where I went wrong as a coach to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” she conceded with a sigh.
Still, with a match left on Saturday against the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, Padda is leaving it up to her players — especially those playing their final matches, Jema Galanza, Mylene Paat, Fhen Emnas and Jellie Tempiatura – to write a fitting end to their season.
“I just told them straight up that there’s training tomorrow. If they wanna fight, then they show up. If they don’t, don’t come at all. I just need seven girls. If that’s what we show up with on Saturday, then I’ll be ready with those girls.”
Contemplating her future with the Lady Falcons, the Southern California-native maintained her commitment to the program she has built, founded on inspiring strength in her young women.
“Hindi ko alam. Am I worried? Yeah, I’m worried. Like I said, I feel like a failure. I don’t know if that’s… if I’m what they want for their program,” she closed.
“I haven’t talked to them (Akari management) yet. But, I’m not making any plans. I’m not going to assume that I’m out of the job. They know me, they know I bleed blue. If they didn’t want me to coach anymore, I wouldn’t coach with anyone else. This is my home here.”
