A true-blue Adamsonian is assigned to call the shots for the Lady Falcons.
A former Adamson spiker himself, Coach John Philip Yude — currently the head coach of the girls’ team — was named the head coach of the women’s squad just days following the departure of Jerry Yee. After steering the Baby Falcons to a runner-up finish in the UAAP Season 85 girls’ division, the school wanted to replicate the success for the seniors’ team with the Adamson alumn at the helm.
Akari Sports held a conversation with the promising coach about his coaching roots up until how he ultimately got the Lady Falcons head-coaching job.
Playing as an opposite hitter for the AdU’s men’s volleyball team in Season 76, Yude bared that he began coaching in Season 80 — his final year with the Soaring Falcons. Tapped as the boys’ team’s chief tactician, he utilized Adamson’s homegrown players.
“I started coaching when I was in my last year in college. I was the head coach of the boys’ volleyball [team]. That time 2nd year palang nila sumali ng UAAP, yung mga players nila ay yung mga students lang ng Adamson and no recruits at all. Doon nag start ang coaching career ko,” he said.
His high school coaching stint sadly came to an end when he graduated from college. He was set to fly abroad and venture into a different path, but when he was asked to stay as the the team’s assistant coach, he just couldn’t turn his back. Thereafter, his love for coaching bore fruit.
“I processed all my papers para susunod sa ate ko doon sa Abu Dhabi after I graduated. Then the new head coach messaged me if pwede ba akong mag assistant sa kanya kasi ako naman ang may hawak last season. Tinanggap ko at tuloy-tuloy na sa pag cocoach. After a year kinuha ako sa men’s team as assistant din at sa women’s team,” Yude said.
Unfortunately, another problem tried to halt the rise of his coaching career: the COVID-19 pandemic. He lost hopes of a return, but thanks to divine intervention, new doors opened to welcome him back to his passion. That’s why for the former Adamsonian, coaching was a ‘calling from God.’
“Then, nagpandemic umuwi ako samin, nag stay ako ng one year doon at nawawalan na ng pag asa na makakabalik sa coaching but God is really good. He opened a new door for me. Kinuha ako sa Creamline na mag trainer noong kakabalik ng PVL sa Ilocos Norte. Then after that, bumalik ako mag assistant sa women’s [team] then became the head coach ng girls’ at assistant sa men’s team,” he said.
From then on, the blessings continued to pour on the Negrense coach — and it was all because of his faith and hard work amidst the challenges he faced since he started in 2017.
“After a year, God blessed me with two teams as head coaches. All of the years of my coaching career, God prepared me for this moment. I know na madami pa akong matutunan araw-araw at madaming challenges along the way pero one thing I’m holding onto is the promise of the Lord that He said, ‘I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU, NOR FORSAKE YOU,'” Yude said.
Now that he is the head coach of the girls’ and women’s teams, he knows that it’s a rigorous task, having to balance out his time with the Baby and Lady Falcons. However, instead of looking at that side of the matter, the young coach pointed to the fact that both teams being under one volleyball program will be an advantage.
“For me, now it takes a lot of time and focus on handling each team. It’s hard but I will get used to it naman. Ang good thing lang din doon is yung program ng college at high school is isa nalang,” he said.
Coach Yude’s mettle will be tested in his first official game with the Lady Falcons in the upcoming Shakey’s Super League National Invitational commencing on July 29. With half of the last UAAP season’s core opting to go pro, the young coach stated that the team is working on chemistry and conditioning.
“Our preparations naman for Shakey’s is that makukuha nila ang team chemistry lalo na puro bago ang nasa first six. Yun muna ang tinatrabaho namin so far then yung body conditioning nila,” Yude said.
He also particularly noted that the staff has built on the players’ confidence, especially those who didn’t play much last season. He believed that they have what it takes, and they only need to realize their potential.
“We focus sa mga kakayanan ng mga bata. Then we work out yung self-confidence nila because most of them hindi pa nagagamit masyado sa UAAP. They have good skills and talents but kulang sa tiwala sa sarili,” the former opposite hitter said.
Asked about his plans to take Adamson women’s volleyball to new heights after coming off from an impressive third-place finish, Yude emphasized on his learnings as a player.
“For me, it requires a lot of sacrifices, a good attitude and character on and out off the court. Kasi for me kahit gaano ka, ka galing pag hindi maayos ang attitude mo di ka magiging successful,” Coach Yude replied, “Katulad ng sinasabi ko sa girls palagi, ‘obedience is the key to become successful in life. Have a good attitude, discipline, consistency, and always obey na walang reklamo. Always be faithful and grateful in little things that God gives. Yan yung mga kailangan ng women’s team ngayon to reach our goal this season,” he added.
What can the Adamson community look forward to now that the Lady Falcons are under his tutelage? The team will persevere to improve so they can meet their goal.
“Siguro ang ma-expect ng supporters ay magiging better ang team kahit na maraming changes. I know there are so many expectations and we will work on that everyday, we must endure all the process to become better everyday at si Lord na ang bahala sa results,” he said.
Coach Yude, together with former Adamson players and now assistant coaches Leo Miranda and Bang Pineda, has his hands full in leading the new-look Lady Falcons to the top of the UAAP mountain. But worry not, Adamson fans, because you got a good one!
