For her resurgent play last week, Adamson University Lady Falcons opposite spiker Eli Soyud bagged the SMART Sports/UAAP Pres Corps Player of the Week honors for games played from February 21 to 25, 2018.
Soyud, who was relegated to the bench to start the season, came out firing in Adamson’s five-set loss against the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles and finished with a season-high 19 points.
The 20-year old then followed it up with a masterful performance against her former squad, De La Salle University Lady Spikers.
Soyud poured in 18 markers against the Lady Spikers, with whom she won a championship in Season 78, and towed the Lady Falcons to their first victory over them since Season 70.
“Bumalik ‘yung trust ko sa sarili ko. Siyempre ‘yung trust ng coaches sa akin parang naging buo ulit kasi nga mas nakakatulong ako hindi na parang dadalhin pa ako,” Soyud thought.
Lady Falcons head coach Air Padda lauded Soyud’s play and hopes she can remain a consistent part of their deep rotation.
“She had a rough start and now a lot of people want to underestimate her but then I never underestimated her. I know what Eli is capable of — she’s capable of a lot and, man, I’m so proud of her,” shared the American tactician.
The Lady Falcons sit at fifth in the standings with a 3-3 record, and have a clear shot at ending the first round with a bang when they face the winless University of the East Lady Warriors over the weekend.
Soyud, who spent the first two years of her collegiate career at La Salle, beat out NU stalwart Jaja Santiago, Ateneo skipper Maddie Madayag, FEU wunderkind Bernadeth Pons, and La Salle defensive ace Dawn Macandili for the weekly award.
