It has been a disastrous past five weeks for Adamson University in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
After March 3, a four-set win against University of the East, the Lady Falcons tasted nothing but losses.
They suffered six straight defeats to see their 2-2 record turn into 2-8.
That’s why when Adamson finally broke the long spell on Saturday, tears fell from senior Karen Verdeflor.
The Lady Falcons worked double-time to fend off the University of the Philippines in a nail-biter, 25-17, 23-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-13.
And they have finally moved back to the win column for the first time since that UE match.
“Sobrang saya lang kasi sunod-sunod yung talo, masakit para sa amin. Ang panalong ito, emosyonal lang kami lalo na yung mga senior,” said Verdeflor, who could not hide her emotions postgame.
Verdeflor, the 23-year-old libero, left it all on the court with a defensive stand of 25 digs and 15 excellent receptions.
That losing streak came close to being extended to seven as the Fighting Maroons threatened to take the match with a 22-20 lead in the fourth set.
However, Lady Falcons head coach JP Yude called for a timeout and calmly laid out his plans that reinvigorated his team.
They stormed back from that hole and never lost momentum, going all the way to the 15-13 fifth set to improve to a 3-8 record.
The win has also pumped life into their dimming Final Four hopes.
For Verdeflor, hearing that calm timeout from Yude was all they needed to hear in front of a wild and loud crowd inside the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“Para sa akin, malaking bagay na kalma lang si coach kasi maingay nga yung crowd, kailangan namin ng magpapakalma sa amin kasi sobrang pressure, sobrang tense na,” said Verdeflor.
“Kaya malaking bagay yung ganong guidance na binibigay ng coach sa amin.”
