It was supposed to be a blowout. The National University Lady Bulldogs are coming into the season with all the momentum. Moreover, they have a generational talent in Jaja Santiago.
But the University of the East Lady Warriors showed that they weren’t the same team as years past; they were dangerous underdogs. Tall, scrappy and determined, the Lady Warriors gave the Lady Bulldogs fits in their season opener, Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. UE ended up taking the first set and almost took the next two only to fall in four frames.
For most teams, a loss would have dampened their spirits. For UE, shoving the Lady Bulldogs to the corner brought out a sense of optimism that had long been gone for the embattled program.
The Lady Warriors, at least based on that one game, are done with being everyone else’s doormat.
“Nare-realize na siguro nila na it’s about time to step up. Although we lost the game, we lost the game gallantly. Ang sinasabi ko sa kanila, sa isang game, may natatalo may nananalo. Nagkataon na kami ang talo.
“It’s how you play the game. Siguro with those words napakita nila na everything has changed,” explained head coach Francis Vicente.
Now in his third season manning the sidelines for the Recto-based spikers, Vicente sees his team starting to learn the winning mentality.
“Ang susunod na lang diyan, how will they win?
“Ngayon pumapasok na ang winning mentality. Its only 70 percent pa lang ang nai-inject sa kanila its not yet 100 percent. Pero ang 70 percent nakikita mo na ‘yun eh. Ang team hindi pwedeng mag-relax. Ang ibang team hindi rin pwedeng mag-relax o i-underestimate kami. Para sa akin I’m happy,” shared Vicente, who is also the mentor of the Women’s National Team.
The Lady Warriors, a team that just ended a 58-game losing streak last season, are bent on winning more than just one game. With the UP Lady Maroons next on their schedule, Vicente is confident that they can put on the same showing.
“Malay mo [manalo]. Maaga pa para sabihin na kulelat na naman kami. Maaga pa. [‘Yung ibang teams] mag-iisip na yan kasi nanonood na ang ibang mga coaches. Nagulat sila na iba na ang iginagagalaw. Continue lang.
“‘Yun ang tinatawag na mature sila skills-wise, immature sila experience-wise.
“Kapag nag-mature sila experience-wise, samahan mo pa ng maturity sa skills, angat na yan,” the veteran mentor said.
