Five seasons of heartbreak and futility loomed as the biggest challenge for Adamson University’s women’s basketball team heading into the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The Lady Falcons had struggled in the post-pandemic UAAP era, managing only a 9-19 record across Seasons 85 and 86, ultimately falling short of the Final Four both times.
Determined to rewrite their story, Adamson embraced a “gatecrash” mindset, fueling a historic campaign in Season 87.
After a commanding 66-48 victory over the UE Lady Warriors at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, combined with UP’s loss to Ateneo, the Lady Falcons clinched the third Final Four slot in the women’s division. This marks their return to the postseason for the first time since Season 82 in 2019.
With this accomplishment, head coach Ryan Monteclaro is pushing his team to be more than just “gatecrashers” and to set a new standard for success at Adamson.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“At first, we told these players that we will gatecrash the Final Four. Pero now, since we are making it, it’s all about making that standard. If you want to be at that elite level, the challenges day-in and day-out will always be the big difference,” Monteclaro shared.
“We’re looking forward to what’s in store for us and we don’t want to take anything for granted. I’m happy pa rin that we came up with a win, and that mapupunta na kami sa Final Four, but moving forward, we want more,” he continued.
Adamson’s return to the Final Four is owed to key performances from Elaine Etang, Cris Padilla, Kem Adeshina, Kat Agojo, and Kim Limbago, among others.
However, Monteclaro emphasized that these players would be remembered not just for their individual talent, but for the legacy they leave with the Lady Falcons, who last claimed the UAAP women’s basketball title in Season 73 (2010).
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“I was telling them that the school will remember you with the legacy you’re gonna leave. They don’t care about who you are—I mean, they care about who you are, but it’s about the legacy you’ll leave when you leave Adamson,” shared Monteclaro, himself a former Soaring Falcon.
“Moving forward, I know that 10 to 15 years from now, they’re gonna look at themselves na we made it despite going into the season ranked seventh or eighth. With that, it’s already a win eh… It’s all about making them realize that we’re capable, and siguro naman yung 8-3 it shows that they’re really capable of making it. I’m just so happy and proud that we’re slowly but surely making it,” he added.
Despite this historic achievement, Monteclaro acknowledged that consistency will be essential for Adamson to advance in a Final Four that includes formidable opponents like last season’s finalists, University of Santo Tomas and National University.
“I’m trying to set their minds na consistency is what we need. There are games na when we play tough teams, we played our ‘A-game,’ diba? Going to the deeper part of the season, we want to be as consistent as possible. The mindset is evolving into a winner’s mentality where we can’t just give away a game, especially against the top teams. We want to play our own game.”
