Among the Adamson University Lady Falcons’ many frustrating moments back in UAAP Season 79, one stood out the most.
During a televised timeout, head coach Airess Padda could not contain her anger. She looked straight into middle blocker Joy Dacoron’s eyes and started pointing out her mistakes.
To cap her tirade, the usually optimistic Padda urged Dacoron, “Do your fucking job.”
A year later, it’s safe to say that Dacoron has started doing just that.
From a dismal season where she barely averaged five points, the 22-year-old spiker is hitting norms of 11 points per match in Season 80 and emerging as one of the most effective middle blockers in the UAAP.
Dacoron credits all of her improvement to Padda’s constant pushing. The Cebuana admits that there was a point in her career when she thought of quitting volleyball as she languished on the Adamson bench through her first two seasons.
It wasn’t until Padda came in before Season 79 that Dacoron exprienced true support and care for her improvement.
“Sa lahat ng mga na-encounter kong coach, siya talaga ‘yung hindi talaga nag-gi-give up.
“Ako kasi ‘yung tipo na kung ‘di na ako maglalaro, okay lang sa akin. Pero siya talagang pinush niya ako,” Dacoron told Tiebreaker Times. “Ayaw niya akong paisipin ng ganoon. Kailangan ko maglaro. Siya kasi ‘yung nagbibigay ng inspirational words na may binigay si Lord sa akin na talent, dapat pahalagahan ko ‘yan.
“Dumating kasi ‘yung point na ayaw ko na talaga, marami namang bagay na pwede akong mag-excel, bakit volleyball pa? So siya ‘yung nagdikdik sa akin na kailangan ko i-embrace ‘yung bigay sa akin ni Lord,” she recalled.
As for the time Padda cursed at her on-air, Dacoron says that their relationship is filled with those types of moments. It’s in this love-hate interaction that they thrive.
“Actually, kami ‘yung totoong love talaga. Sabi nga, the more you hate, the more you love.
“In reality kasi hindi ako close kay coach Air na personally na lagi kaming magkasama, ganoon. Pero deep inside my heart, close kami. Sobrang thankful ko na tinutulungan niya talaga. Naiinis ako sa sarili ko kapag hindi ko nagagawa ‘yung mga pinapagawa niya,” Dacoron closed.
For her part, Padda is proud to see Dacoron blossom. A middle blocker during her playing days, Padda almost made Dacoron a special project.
“I think, coaching Joy, the one person that’s been in her own way is her. She’s the least experienced player on the team for the longest time. I don’t think she really ever thought that she could be better. Her mental game has really picked up,” Padda pointed out.
“Joy is almost like a flower, watching her finally bloom. She’s always wanted to be part of the starting six, she’s always wanted to be talked bout in the volleyball world and not be just somebody who you make fun of or expect to mess up.
“I think for a long time she looked at herself like that. I told her that she’s so much more. Now she feels responsible. If she doesn’t play well or up to our standards, the team is gonna hurt from it,” the American tactician added.
