It all began three years ago for a young standout from Domingo Lacson National High School, in a season still shadowed by the pandemic but heavy with expectation. When UAAP softball finally roared back to life, she didn’t just arrive—she took over, stepping into the spotlight for an Adamson University side chasing an unprecedented 10th straight championship.
From the very start, Glory Alonzo played like she had been there before.
She anchored the Lady Falcons’ defense with calm authority throughout the eliminations, then saved her best for when it mattered most. In the Finals, she delivered the kind of performance that turns players into program legends, sealing Adamson’s decade-long dominance in emphatic fashion.
Best Pitcher. Finals MVP. In her first year in the UAAP.
Fast forward to Season 88, and Alonzo found herself in a familiar position—at the center of another title run, and once again delivering on the biggest stage. This time, she helped steer Adamson to a 13th consecutive championship, extending what has become the most dominant streak in collegiate softball history.
For some, the number 13 carries superstition. For Adamson, it became something else entirely.
“Una, nakaka-overwhelm po; masaya sa pakiramdam. They say na malas daw ‘yung 13; so, cinut namin, binreak namin ‘yung paniniwala nila. For us, this is lucky 13 po talaga para sa ‘min. Mas maganda siguro ‘yung naging result kasi nga nagtulungan ‘yung bawat isa sa amin talaga. Kung paano kami naglaro nung Game 1, mas hinigitan nga namin ‘yun at mas na-overcome pa namin ‘yung mga lapses namin. Yung may mga pagkukulang kami, pero na-overcome po namin siya,” said the graduating ace.
But the road to that “lucky 13” was anything but smooth.
Adamson dropped a key game to eventual Finals opponent University of the Philippines and had to navigate internal adjustments and pressure points as the season wore on. Amid the turbulence, head coach Ana Santiago turned to her trusted ace one final time, giving her a simple but loaded instruction in what would be her last campaign at the helm.
“Carry your team.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
And just as she did in her rookie season, Alonzo answered the call once more.
The Bacolod native carried not just the pitching load, but the emotional weight of a program built on expectations and excellence. More than anything, she carried belief—especially the one her coach never stopped giving her.
“Siguro po masaya lang rin po, kasi despite sa hindi ko pagpe-perform nang maayos, ando’n ‘yung tiwala ni coach sa ‘kin. Nagtitiwala siya na kaya kong makabalik. Masarap lang sa pakiramdam kasi hindi lahat ng player nagkakaroon ng moment na gano’n. So, thankful ako kasi, ‘yun nga, sinabi niya sa ‘kin na buhatin ko ‘yung team. Naniniwala naman ako — hindi lang ako — ‘yung mga kasama ko, lalaban din sila. Papalo sila kasi kahit anong pukol ko, wala rin. Tinatak ko lang sa isip ko na uunahan ko, sisimulan ko, pero alam ko na lalaban sila ‘pag nakikita nila ‘kong lumalaban,” Alonzo shared.
As one of the team’s senior leaders, Alonzo embraced more than just her role on the field. She became a guide, a standard, and at times, a mirror for the younger Falcons learning how to compete at the highest level.
For her, leadership was never about carrying everything alone—but about making sure everyone else knew they could carry their share.
“Yun lang nga, sinabi ko na individually dapat mag-perform kami, kasi nga kahit anong sabi namin, kung ayaw nilang lumaban, wala rin. So, ‘yun nga, hindi ibig sabihin na magre-rely lang kami sa isang tao; dapat mag-contribute ang bawat isa sa ‘min. Lalo kaming seniors, nakita naman namin na nag-perform talaga ‘yung mga ibang kasama namin. Ando’n talaga sila at sinabayan nila kung ano ‘yung nasa puso ng isa, nasa puso ng lahat,” said Alonzo, beamingly.
Even after already graduating with a bachelor’s degree in the same program, Alonzo chose to return for one final season—delaying her next chapter for one more run with the team that shaped her.
It was not an easy decision, but it was a personal one rooted in loyalty and gratitude.
“Hindi madali, pero alam ko kasi na mahal ko ‘yung team. Hindi ko lang naman sila basta iiwan nang gano’n-gano’n lang for my last playing year; hangga’t kaya ko, hangga’t puwede pa, ilalaro ko talaga ‘yun. Kasi nga, tulad niyan, marami ngang nawalang seniors sa amin. Alam kong kailangan pa nila ’ko at para wala rin akong pagsisihan ‘pag hindi ako naglaro. So, pinush ko talagang makapaglaro pa rin kahit minsan meron sa desisyon ko na parang ayoko na, pero dahil sa pagmamahal ko sa team ko, sa team namin, sa team Adamson — mahal ko ‘yang mga kasamahan ko, ayaw ko silang iwan ng gano’n-gano’n lang,” she recalled.
By the time the final out was recorded in Season 88, Alonzo had not just fulfilled a return mission—she had closed a chapter defined by resilience, loyalty, and sustained excellence.
“Sobrang saya po kasi lalo na Season 88 — my lucky number talaga is eight. Eight-eight, pangontra ‘yon sa 13. Masaya kasi nga ‘yung decision ko was worth it. Lahat ng pinaghirapan ko, lahat ng kung ano mang nakasagabal, na-overcome namin. Sobrang saya lang sa puso na nakuha namin ‘yung number 13,” said Adamson’s player no. 8 for four seasons.
Now, as she prepares to soar beyond the diamond and into life after collegiate softball, Alonzo carries with her the lessons of a journey shaped by pressure, purpose, and pride.
“Unang-una, salamat sa Adamson. Thank you sa lahat ng pag-aalaga sa ‘min, sa lahat ng benefits na nakuha namin, from scholarship to personal, sa lahat ng tulong. Thank you din kasi isa sa naghubog sa ‘kin is ‘yung Adamson, kung paano ako maging palaban na tao in life, hindi lang sa sports. Thankful ako, lalo na sa pag-guide ni Coach Ana, kasi nga hindi niya pinaramdam sa ‘min na hindi kami basta-bastang talunan, hindi lang sa sports, kundi pati sa buhay,” she shared.
As she, Season MVP Mae Langga, Neomay Mahinay, Madaelene Domaug, Jeelyn Pajotal, and Chastene Jover leave the nest, Alonzo leaves behind one final reminder for the next wave of Lady Falcons.
“Sa mga maiiwan, pagpatuloy niyo ‘yung legacy na nasimulan natin. Kailangan ninyong ipagpatuloy. May tiwala naman kami sa inyo; kayang-kaya niyo pa ‘yan.”
