For Adamson Coach Sherwin Meneses, teamwork is key to their game against Ateneo

Adamson Coach Sherwin Meneses got his hands full as the Lady Falcons
go up against the Ateneo Lady Eagles this Saturday.
(Photo by Roy Afable) 

Host school Adamson University didn't exactly have a good start especially when their first game were against defending champs during UAAP 76 Volleyball season opener. The Lady Falcons currently hold a 1-1 record. In their game against the new look UP Lady Maroons last Sunday, December 8, it all seemed like it was gonna be a walk in the park for them -- or so they thought.

It was a seesaw battle for both teams but the most crucial of that particular game was when UP made a surprised comeback in the third set. That pretty much alarmed the Lady Falcons in the process. Adamson finally got their groove back in the fourth and fifth sets as they avoided a potential upset from the Lady Maroons.

It was a sigh of relief for AdU Coach Sherwin Meneses after that hard-fought win against UP. He felt that it wasn't their best performance at the time but a win's a win nevertheless.

"Okay naman, at least nanalo pero masama yung game," Coach Sherwin said.

"Pero walang magagawa, tapos na yun eh. Buti na lang nanalo."

Fighting Lady Maroons

The 5-setter win over University of the Philippines was indeed a learning experience for Adamson. Coach Sherwin praised the Lady Maroons' performance against his team. Height and youth was the biggest advantage they had over the Lady Falcons during that game.

He said UP are legit contenders and are not to be taken lightly. But for the Lady Falcons Coach, they'll come prepared when they go up against the Lady Maroons in the Second Round of the tournament.

"Ang UP naman eh contender naman talaga eh kasi may height yan eh," Meneses stressed. "Tsaka halo na rin yan yung experience at youth."

"Siguro sa next game namin ng UP, talagang sobrang paghahandaan na rin namin eh. Kasi may mga materyales sila sa team. Maganda yung nilaro nila," he added.

Putting trust on his rookies

In their game against UP, Rookie Libero Jelly Tempiatura made her UAAP debut during the third set. While fellow Rookies Jema Galanza  and Mylene Paat played their first game last December 1 against La Salle. Meneses had nothing but good words for them. Having a very deep bench was definitely an advantage for the Lady Falcons Coach.

"Palagi ko sa kanila sinasabi malakas ang bench natin kaya’t kahit sino ang hugutin mo, may magpoprovide ng scoring, ng defense," he explained.

"So, okay naman yung naging performance niya pati si Jema [Galanza]. Talagang next time siguro magki-click pa yang mga yan."

Racking up on Errors

Despite redeeming themselves in the fourth and fifth sets respectively, the Lady Falcons were easily racking up errors early in the game. UP's first set 25-23 win on Adamson, their mistakes and perhaps lack of confidence cost them. Those were pretty much what they needed to address as they face Ateneo this Saturday.

"Actually, talaga naman nauunahan kami palagi. Ewan ko ba yung sa errors namin, pag nag-error sunod-sunod eh," explained Meneses.

"So pag gusto naman nilang gumalaw, kayang – kaya naman nila maglaro eh. Siguro i-develop muna yung confidence nila sa sarili. Ateneo kalaban, trabahuhin na lang namin. Wala na tayong magagawa don eh – trabaho na lang ulit."

Just play as a team

Everybody knows that the Ateneo Lady Eagles are on rebuilding mode this season. Despite that fact, Coach Sherwin still considers Ateneo a threat lead by one Alyssa Valdez. The Lady Falcons may have a deep bench but containing the Lady Eagles Captain is not gonna be an easy task.

He stressed however, the Lady Falcons still have a long way to go but sky's the limit on what they can do on the court.

"Si Alyssa [Valdez], talagang dapat mong bantayan yan eh," Coach Sherwin reiterated.

"Yung sa amin naman eh, wala kaming katulad ni Alyssa Valdez. Pero tulong tulong yung team. Tsaka sa tingin ko may igagalaw pa yung team eh. Marami pa – mataas pa yung mararating ng team."