Louie Romero’s future with Adamson University was hanging in the balance right after the Lady Falcons suffered a heartbreaking loss to Ateneo de Manila University in the playoff for the last Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament.
During the post-match interview, Romero – who was trying to fight back tears – made it clear back then that she was still weighing her options regarding her future.
“Tingnan na lang po natin kung anong mangyayari sa amin. Hindi pa rin talaga namin alam,” Romero said right after the loss to the Blue Eagles last June 14.
Eventually, the 22-year-old playmaker out of Kings Montessori School decided to stay put in Adamson. Meanwhile, her spiker Trisha Genesis ended up with Akari.
Now, after an off-season full of uncertainties, the 2019 PVL Collegiate Conference Finals MVP – who said that her teammates played a huge part in her decision – promised one thing to the entire Adamson community.
“Kasi siguro ayokong iwan yung mga teammates ko. Number one yun kasi sama-sama kaming pumunta sa Adamson, so sabi ko hindi ako aalis hanggat walang championship sa Adamson or kahit Final Four,” Romero told Tiebreaker Times after leading Adamson to the V-League Women’s Collegiate semifinals.
“Sobrang importante kasi ano e, specially ngayon sa UAAP host kami so gusto naming bumawi. It’s now or never e so kailangan galingan talaga namin ngayong taon,” she added.
The three-time Palarong Pambansa champion from Bacolod City led Adamson University to a 2-1 win-loss record in the group stage of the V-League Collegiate Challenge before taking charge in the team’s straight-sets win over University of Sto. Tomas in the quarterfinals.
Romero had 19 excellent sets to go along with two points in the Lady Falcons’ 25-15, 25-15, 25-22 victory over the Golden Tigresses last Wednesday at the Paco Arena to set up a date with the undefeated College of St. Benilde in the semifinals.
The former Palarong Pambansa Best Setter said that Adamson will go all out in the semifinals as they look to repeat the magic they did back in the 2019 PVL Collegiate Conference where they won it all.
“Siguro expect niyo na magta-trabaho pa rin kami as a team, na hindi kami basta basta susuko. Ilalaban namin bawat point talaga, bawat set, yun lang,” said Romero.
