The University of the East Lady Warriors ended their infamous 58-game losing streak, Wednesday, as they romped the Adamson University Lady Falcons.
The Lady Warriors reportedly had more than just the match on the line. Head coach Francis Vicente had threatened to leave his post if UE surrendered a 59th straight loss.
“May sinabi ako sa kanila pressure, pressure yun para sa kanila eh. If they won’t win, alis na ako, kasi hindi ako sanay na natatalo. So ngayon, sabi ko, pag nanalo kayo nandiyan pa rin ako sa tabi niyo,” Vicente recalled.
Vicente had been the architect of the University of Santo Tomas’ legendary high school girl’s volleyball program, winning so many titles even he could not remember exactly how many.
In just two seasons with UE, Vicente has brought in promising recruits who finally came through for him.
” Naturuwa ako sa kanila kasi nakita ko yung maturity nila. Natatanggap na nila ang sungit ko, ang pagiging sadista kong coach, ang mga masasakit kong salita. So yun ang kagandahan doon,” Vicente said in his first appearance in the UAAP press room since he took the reigns for the Lady Warriors. “At first ang daming problema pero yung problema na yun, kaya naman namin i-overcome. Nangyari na iyan, I told them, walang bibigay.”
“Ang feeling ko, umiiyak ako! Umiyak ako dahil masaya ako na natigil namin yung 58-game na losing streak, tapos straight set pa. Hindi sila bumigay hanggang huli. So yun yung nakikita natin – nagma-mature na ng unti-unti ang team, so hopefully by next year, we’ll be better,” Vicente expressed with tears in his eyes. [READ: Love for his team keeping Vicente going despite embarrassing streak]
Winning this one match already feels like a championship for a UE community that has been stuck in volleyball obscurity for nearly four years.
“Siyempre nasa isang eskwelahan ka na ilang taong hindi nanalo ng isang game so para kang nanalo ng championship diyan. Tapos yung laro cardiac arrest pa, so iyon ang pinaka-matindi dun,” the multi-titled UAAP juniors head coach added. “Parang atat na atat ka, gusto mo ikaw na lang ang maglaro doon para matapos ang game.”
“Yun mga nangigigl ka dahil sa errors na nangyayari, pero normal eh. Kailangan lang nila ang maturity sa loob. Nangyayari na iyun ng paunti-unti.”
For most teams, a 1-13 record brings nothing but shame. For the Lady Warriors, it offers respite for a group of young ladies who have finally slain their demons.
