It is incredible to note that the Adamson University Lady Falcons are just one game away from entering the UAAP Season 79 Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four.
The Lady Falcons stared at oblivion after painful defeats to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses and University of the East Lady Warriors. They had to win against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, and UE needed to beat UST, for them to stand a chance at making the post-season.
Fortunately for Adamson, that exact scenario occurred last November 15, 2016, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. UE had prevailed 64-58 against UST earlier that day and Adamson secured the lifeline when they won 57-53 versus FEU.
Regardless of whether or not the Lady Falcons could have still qualified for a playoff for the last Final Four spot, motivation wasn’t short as they wanted to get back at the Lady Tamaraws for their 56-61 loss back in the first round.
“Fruit of hardwork lang yung ginawa namin. Yung ginawa namin (ay) payback. Binawian lang namin yung FEU nung (sa) first round,” commented Kaye Pingol after the game.
Pingol contributed 15 points and six rebounds to the Adamson cause in their win against FEU, and she immediately turned her focus towards the UST duel.
“Babawian namin ang UST. Yung sinabi nila po na parang chamba lang (yung panalo) nung first round, papatunayan namin na hindi yan yung ginawa namin. Tatabangin namin sila,” the Iloilo-native declared.
The sophomore stated that hardwork and defense were the keys to win seal a ticket to the Final Four. She added, “Sisipagan pa namin yung gagawin namin against UST. Consistent lang kami sa kung papasok, dapat maging kung anong ilalaro yun na yun. Dapat maging masipag pa sa depensa. Tulong-tulong lang sa team. Teamwork talaga.”
It has been a long journey for Pingol and the rest of the Lady Falcons, starting from last season. In Season 78, Adamson finished 6th at the end of the elimination round with four wins and 10 losses. Pingol, though, promised that this will be the start of something better.
“Masaya kami, yung parang bubuhayin namin yung last year na natatalo kami kaya papatunayin namin na kaya pa namin bumawi sa next year pa simula ngayon,” shared the Financial Management student.
There is still one more game, however, for the Lady Falcons, and Pingol is just glad they have an opportunity to prove their doubters wrong.
“Papatunayan namin na hindi kami yung bunch of losers na sabi-sabi. Kaya pa naming manalo hangga’t kaya pa namin.”
