February 13, 2010 planted the seeds for the historic Adamson Lady Falcon streak that spanned six long years.
During the 72nd season of the UAAP, the softball tournament only had six squads (National University debuted their softball team in Season 75). Going into the last day of the regular season, the Adamson University Lady Falcons, mentored by Ana Santiago, faced the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Softbelles, coached by former UST baseball player Sandy Barredo.
Coming into the game, the UAAP Season 71 Softball Champions were 8-1 and needed to defeat the 9-0 Tiger Softbelles to force a Final Four. A season sweep during that time merited an automatic championship. Sandy Barredo’s soundly defeated Ana Santiago and the Lady Falcons, 8-3, to sweep the season and win the championship. Little did coach Sandy Barredo know this victory would spark the Adamson Lady Falcons into carving one of the greatest winning streaks in Philippine sports history.
“Naalala ko nung pag balik namin sa dorm nung gabing yun sabi ko sa kanila ‘we are going to win the championship next season,'” Coach Santiago told Tiebreaker Times after the Lady Falcons had won their 70th straight game. “Pero never ko in-expect na aabot sa ganito yung streak. The goal every season is to win the championship. Bonus na lang talaga ito.”
The Lady Falcons went on to win 73 straight games that included five elimination round sweeps and six playoff wins that led to five straight championships. On the other end, the UST Tiger Softbelles were always in the mix for a podium finish.
With the rise of the Lady Bulldogs, the recruitment drive of all the teams, and the consistency of the San Marcelino-based lady batters, the UST Tiger Softbelles finished in third place during four of the last five seasons.
“Coach Sandy (Barredo) is a great recruiter. He has seen most of the players here since they were kids,” De La Salle University Green Batters team manager Pepe Munoz said about Barredo.
The Tiger Softbelles program slowly developed a solid system in the next five years. The program currently has four RP Blu Girls in the lineup: pitcher Ann Antolihao, catcher Celestine Palma, first basewoman Louisse Garde, and center fielder CJ Roa.
Out of all the post-game interviews though, Barredo always seemed to be the most pessimistic about going into an Adamson game. Moreover, a stinging loss against the seventh-placed Ateneo Lady Eagles two games prior made matters worse for the Espana-based squad. “Instead na sitting pretty kami sa second, we go up pa sa Wednesday na big assignment pa,” he said after defeating the Lady Maroons. “So most probably drop na kami to third place.
The UST alumnus had also not spoken to the team since Saturday. “Since nung game against Ateneo, hindi ko pa sila kinakausap,” he shared to Tiebreaker Times. “So nakapag-isip isip sila. Sabi ko sa kanila, mag-abang abang lang. Walang kakabig, tulak lang to center field.”
Right off the bat, the UST Tiger Softbelles were able to punch in a run courtesy of Kristine Lacupa coming from a Palma RBI. Antolihao and the UST defense stranded eight Adamson batters on base.
Then came the third inning storm.
Palma registered her second double of the game to send Lea Guevarra home and double the lead for the Lady Tiger Softbelles. CJ Roa followed this up with a ground-rule double and Palma padded the lead, 3-0. Garde opened the floodgates for the España-based team with a booming triple to the left and Roa crossed past catcher Angelie Ursabia for their fourth run. Adamson Head Coach Ana Santiago attempted to arrest the slump by sending in Riflyca Basa to the mound to replace reigning MVP Annalie Benjamen. Adamson shortstop Queeny Sabobo stopped the bleeding as she threw to Riezel Calumbres and retired Charm Oria.
During their first outing, the Lady Falcons shut out UST in a 10-0 abbreviated fourth inning win. “Last game namin, nag-experiment ako na apat na pitcher yung ginamit ko,” Barredo shared. “Tinignan ko kung sino makaka-hold. Hindi ko pa nagamit si Garde nun. Nung ginamit ko si Ann, siya yung naka-hold. Sabi ko, siya na gagamitin ko sa second round.”
After scoring two more runs (it would have been three runs if Palma had stepped on first base) during the fifth inning, the heart of a champion, as cliché as it sounds, set in for the Lady Falcons. A solo home run by “Home Run” Queeny Sabobo opened the sixth inning but a groundout, a strikeout, and a flyout closed out the inning for the Lady Falcons.
“From 1 to 7, puwede pa ngang to 9, may palo sila,” Barredo said about the Adamson batting order. “Kumpleto talaga. Kaya yung outfielders ko lumayo talaga.”
With one last chance to extend the streak, the Lady Falcons did everything they could. The bases loaded for Adamson with two outs and Sabobo at bat. Sabobo, who had been struggling all season long, was 2 of 3 at-bat during the game.
“Nakita ko na magrere-entry si Benjamen,” Barredo shared. Benjamen had been sitting on the bench since the third inning before the re-entry.
In a calculated risk, the veteran coach intentionally walked Sabobo that brought fellow senior Krisna Paguican home. The reigning Most Valuable Player stepped on the plate to at least bring one more run for the defending champions. “Dimpo” connected with a grounder but it was composedly collected by rookie third basewoman Lealyn Guevarra and knocked off Lorna Adorable for final out. With that final out, the Tiger Softbelles duplicated the feat that their UAAP Season 73 iteration had done – beat an Adamson Lady Falcons squad.
“They played as a team. Good defense, one error,” an exasperated Barredo said after the game. “Lagi ko sinasabi sa kanila, pag hindi kayo mag-eeror, mananalo kayo. Si Roa hindi pa tumatama e, yung bottom ang nagdala sa amin.”
Barredo also added that the cold shoulder he had given the team after losing to the Lady Eagles made them realize how highly he believed in this team.
However, the Tiger Softbelles have little to no time to celebrate this monumental win as they face the National University Lady Bulldogs in a virtual best-of-three semifinals series. “Pero mas mabigat na yung susunod. NU na next. Yun yung kelangan talaga namin paghandaan,” he closed, looking to quickly get back to work for the team’s next outing.
Even having ended the streak, all this would be for nothing if they don’t win the championship this season. The win though eliminated any advantage a sweep would have given the defending champions in their bid to win their sixth straight crown.
