Newly-minted Adamson head coach George Pascua is heading into the UAAP Season 85 men’s volleyball tournament with a chip on his shoulder.
The previous UAAP season saw Pascua and the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws suffer their worst finish since 2014, capping off their campaign with a 1-13 win-loss slate to finish at last place.
Pascua and the Lady Tamaraws eventually parted ways after the tournament.
“Yun ang naging motivation ko,” said the PLDT head coach, who spent five years with FEU. “Kumbaga, the more na nasusugatan ka, the more na dapat tumatapang ka.
“Syempre hindi ganun kadali yung proseso na panggagalingan namin pero nandoon pa rin yung eagerness namin na mapunta sa top,” he added.
The former Petron tactician also expressed his utmost gratitude to Adamson University for giving him the opportunity to lead the team.
“Syempre happy ako na magkakaroon ako ng panibagong opportunity. Syempre hindi ganun kadali yun so may adjustments na mangyayari pero me as a coach, isang privilege sa akin yun na maka-serve sa Adamson,” said Pascua.
He will make his return to the men’s volleyball tournament for the first time since 2013.
Pascua, who also played for FEU during his collegiate days, steered the Tamaraws to four titles as a coach. He is looking to replicate, if not exceed, the same feat with the Soaring Falcons.
“Knowing naman Adamson powerhouse din sa volleyball ‘yan, so expectation nila sa akin bilang head coach nila gusto ko mas higitan pa yung mga achievements ko before sa mga previous UAAP tournaments namin,” said Pascua.
“Dekada na nung huli akong humawak sa [men’s]. Iba na yung mga players ngayon, pero syempre yung sistema is nandoon pa rin pero iba na magiging adjustment kasi kailangan ko ring matuto sa mga players at the same time. Dapat may mga collaboration kami para sa mga goal namin.”