Just when it seemed like another win would slip away from newly-installed Adamson University coach Jed Colonia, third-year guard Cheska Apag summoned the willpower in the closing seconds to drag her rookie mentor and the rest of the Lady Falcons across the finish line.
With 40 seconds remaining, Apag came up with a crucial steal that allowed Adamson to burn precious seconds off the clock and keep FEU from launching a late game-winner.
The Lady Falcons escaped with a 57-56 thriller over the Lady Tamaraws, and the Misamis Oriental native could not hide her joy knowing Colonia finally earned his first victory as head coach.
“Masaya rin kasi yung pressure nasa kanya rin kasi,” said the Sports Science student, who led Adamson with 18 points, six steals, and five rebounds. “Kung tutuusin, coming from coach Ryan (Monteclaro), nag-podium kami before eh (tapos) biglaan napalitan si coach Ryan.
“Nasa kanya kung pressure kasi yun yung mga tinitignan ng mga (ibang) coaches kung bakit siya nilagay. Pero natutuwa kami kasi nabigyan namin siya ng first ever na panalo as head coach.”
Indeed, there were questions about Colonia’s capability to sustain Adamson’s upward trajectory after Monteclaro’s sudden and quiet departure, especially since he had guided the Lady Falcons to a third-place finish in Season 87.
But after finally experiencing his first win, Colonia showed no signs of being overwhelmed by the task at hand. Apag added that the Nash Racela protégé has already been able to establish authority while still maintaining a brotherly presence with the players.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Masaya siya kasama. Parang namin siyang kuya. Coach/kuya kasi kapag magulo na yung team namin, kinakausap niya kaming lahat,” she said. “Yun yung nagustuhan ko kay coach Jed kasi hindi siya like yung iba kong kasing coach before, pag magulo na yung situation namin, biglaang aalis sa nakasanayan ko before.
“Siya kasi, kinakausap niya kami at gusto niya maitama yung mali.”
Adjusting to a new system is never easy for student-athletes, especially in the UAAP, where expectations are always high. For Apag, losing Adamson’s familiar run-and-gun identity has been the biggest challenge, one she hopes the team can eventually recover this season.
“Siguro yung adjustments lang,” Apag admitted. “Kasi bago pa si coach Jed, parang siyang rookie coach. Iba yung system ni coach Ryan at iba yung system ni coach Jed. Yung kay coach Ryan kasi, nasanay kami na pagkakuha ng bola, takbo na ng takbo. Kay coach Jed kasi, may mga systems siya na bago na gusto niya ipagawa sa amin. Yun yung mga kailangan namin i-adjust this season.
“As in takbo kami talaga ng takbo nung panahon ni coach Ryan. Ngayon kasi, nawala yung ganung bread and butter namin na takbo takbo. Sa ngayon, yun yung gusto namin ibalik kasi yun yung nawala sa amin.”
After opening the season with losses to University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University, the victory over FEU was a crucial step in getting Adamson back on track. For now, though, the Lady Falcons know that the climb remains steep and progress will come in small steps.
It may take time before Colonia’s reign bears results, but Apag believes the process is more important than immediate outcomes.
“Siguro yung pagiging better every day,” she said.
“Gusto namin ibalik yung mantra na yun na step-by-step dahil hindi namin derecho makukuha yung goal na inaasahan namin this season. Yung goal namin is to get better every day.”
