ADAMSON COACH JP YUDE SAYS BABY FALCONS NEED ‘STRONGER START’
In a classic duel overflowing with passion and pride from both sides, the Adamson Baby Falcons outlasted the UST Junior Tigresses in a five-set battle Tuesday morning at the Paco Arena.
The San Marcelino side and the crew from España took turns in pounding on each other’s defense with the former emerging victorious in the end, 15-25, 25-19, 16-25, 25-19, 15-11.
But while the win was certainly to be celebrated, Adamson head coach JP Yude plans to spend the three-day break figuring out how to solve the sluggish start of his wards in their last two outings.
“We’re trying to figure out ngayon pero I always tell them na kailangan strong start tayo, kailangan agresibo agad. Kailangan pa namin i-manage talaga ‘yung ganung tendency namin pero, on the other hand, pataas ng pataas naman ‘yung laro nila,” Yude told Akari Sports.
“Tinatantya na lang namin ngayon kung sobra ba sa warmup o kulang sa warmup but we will figure it out,” he added.
With setter Chen Cuenca in full control of the offense, the Baby Falcons was brought back to life in the second set to equalize the match.
This sudden surge in the second frame even pushed UST head coach Kung Fu Reyes to finally unleash top gun Angeline Poyos who did not see action in her team’s first salvo against De La Salle-Zobel.
The exchange of excellent defense and powerful kills continued all to the way to the end of the fourth set until the Baby Falcons faced another lackluster start in the deciding frame.
Down 2-8 as the teams switched courts, the Baby Falcons seemingly switched back to high gear to complete a 13-3 run which put them in a tie with NSNU in the standings at 2-0.
On what he told the girls as they tried to end the slump, Yude shares: “I reminded them na kaya nga namin makipaglaban sa college team at kaya namin habulin so dapat ngayon din.”
“I thank the Lord na nakagawa ang mga bata ng paraan na makaraos kami sa set five,” he added.
And the best lesson the girls should learn from surviving the tall, gritty UST squad?
“Trabahuhin na natin nang maige simula palang,” the coach said.
The Baby Falcons will face UP on Saturday, 8AM, at the same venue.