A dream delayed, not a dream denied.
That was the mindset of head coach JP Yude following Adamson University’s straight-sets loss to the University of Santo Tomas in the stepladder semifinals of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
After missing the Final Four in the past two seasons, Adamson engineered a stunning turnaround, entering the Season 88 postseason as the third seed behind the breakout of presumptive MVP Shaina Nitura, Nigerian spiker Frances Mordi, and playmaker Fhei Sagaysay.
“What is important is on how we look back pagdating sa susunod na season. So yun lang, yun talaga eh. So ang ano namin is we’re really grateful na dinala kami ni Lord dito. There were so many challenges along the way, but still, God is good pa rin na nandito kami sa Final Four,” said Yude.
“So the season may have ended for us, but still, marami kami natutunan para sa susunod yung team is… Mas more pa namin maging eager at paghirapan during the preparation.”
And in guiding the Lady Falcons back to perennial contender status following an exodus of players in Season 85 — when key players like Louie Romero, Trisha Tabu, and Kate Santiago opted to turn pro — Yude still walked out of the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday evening with a smile and visible pride.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“We are grateful na maraming lessons na nakuha ngayong season na ito. So everything, may purpose talaga si Lord why we are here,” the concurrent Baby Falcons head coach said.
“For now, nandito kami, but in the next years, we need to work it out talaga so that yung aim namin na championship, makapunta kami doon by God’s will. So yun lang talaga na-remind ko sa kanila na we trust in the Lord but we always work for it. Kasi hindi naman genie si Lord na isang kaskas mo lang ibibigay agad sa atin. Kailangan trabahuin talaga natin every time,” he added.
One of the positives Yude sees moving forward is Adamson’s continuity heading into Season 89, anchored by the continued development of the trio of Nitura, Mordi, and Sagaysay. The team also saw the emergence of MG Del Moral, Abby Segui, and Juris Manuel, among others.
However, if the Lady Falcons are to break through in a highly competitive UAAP women’s volleyball landscape featuring De La Salle University, UST, and National University, Yude stressed the need for his team to grow into more complete, mature athletes.
For the Hinigaran, Negros Occidental native, that growth will be key to finally bringing home Adamson’s first-ever UAAP women’s volleyball crown.
“So siguro for us na sa ganung situation namin sa team maraming first year, second year. So siguro I’m very grateful sa Lord because sa ganitong year nila on how they perform, on how they connect to each other. Pero syempre doon pa malalaman na during the game nagpa-falldown talaga,” Yude said.
“Yung experience pa yung kulang, maturity during the game. So I know that in God’s perfect time, maabot din namin yun. So ngayon kailangan talaga naming magpasensya at kailangan trabahain by the next season. Kailangan trabahuin talaga namin.”
