Based on the standings, the Adamson University Lady Falcons are currently the best team in the PVL Collegiate Conference with a 5-0 record.
But as head coach Airess Padda is quick to point out, Adamson are not playing like a great team should.
The Lady Falcons have developed a tendency to give up big leads and allow their opponents to push them into uncomfortable situations. Though Adamson have escaped most of the time, Padda stresses that they never should have ended up in those situations in the first place.
“I just think we’re still really inconsistent. I think when my team gets [a] lead they tend to get really complacent and they just over-relax,” said the American mentor.
“They haven’t found, I guess, the right balance of playing hard, staying focused, and having fun. It’s like sometimes they turn into like toddlers out there and then they get too careless, and a ten-point lead gets cut down to five because we make errors, and then the five-point lead gets cut down to zero,” she added.
“And before they realize it, now the other team is back in it.”
Padda knows that her team is still adjusting having lost three key players – Jema Galanza, Mylene Paat, Fhen Emnas – from last year’s squad.
Most pressing is getting new setter MJ Igao up to speed with her teammates.
“For us, I think our weakest link is our setter and I know it’s hard for the hitters to like get in a groove and kinda feel good about their play. So when we get leads, I feel like everyone is happy because we have a cushion and they know that and then that’s when they think like there’s not that much pressure on me so maybe I can try to do a little bit more,” Padda explained.
“But then that turns into errors and we don’t have a cushion anymore. And then the hitters go back to having the play it way too safe.”
Among their fellow UAAP schools, Padda also knows that her team has unique pressure since they’re the only squad already playing with their UAAP Season 81 lineup.
The UST Golden Tigresses, the FEU Lady Tamaraws, and the UP Lady Maroons are all missing their best scorers.
The Lady Falcons do not have anyone significant who will come in before the UAAP. They need their current lineup to fast-track their development.
“I know that and we’re not gonna brag about this (5-0 record), but we know that everybody’s team is really weak right now, incluiding ours like the other team don’t have people. Our people are here but we’re not utilizing them because we haven’t found that team jell,” said Padda.
“I think we need to play the most like we need the playing experience more because one of our biggest positions in the court is a setter and she’s a baby out there that’s why our offense right now is so weak.”
