Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Season after season, University of the East has endured not winning a single game that even former national head coach Francis Vicente could not immediately change the fortunes of the Lady Warriors.
Vicente arrived at UE in 2014 hoping to turn things around for the woeful Lady Warriors but at season’s end the losing streak ballooned to 45 and with only one game left in Season 78 the number was 58.
A multi-titled coach such as Vicente is not used to losing and his hard-nosed style of coaching has led University of Santo Tomas to numerous high school championships with players such as Alyssa Valdez and Dindin Santiago playing for him.
Before Wednesday’s match against Adamson University, Vicente gave his team an ultimatum: lose and he’ll leave.
“May sinabi ako sa kanilang pressure, if they won’t win aalis na ako,” Vicente said. “Hindi ako sanay na natatalo eh, ngayon kapag nanalo kayo, andyan ako sa tabi niyo.”
“I hope ito na yung simula sa pagtigil ng losing streak ng UE, sana tuluy-tuloy na.”
Vicente’s words were not wasted as Shaya Adorador and company responded the only way they have to as they ripped the Lady Falcons apart in straight sets.
“Sobrang saya, hindi ko alam kung anong pakiramdam, sobrang mixed emotions tapos sobrang nakakatuwa, napaiyak ko tatay ko, napaiyak ko coaches namin sa harap ng maraming tao,” Adorador said. “Pinatunayan namin na ayaw namin silang mawala.”
Even with humiliating losses here and there, Adorador remained confident UE’s time will come.
And it did in the team’s final match of the season in a no-bearing game featuring the bottom two teams that ended with the Lady Warriors celebrating like they just won the title.
“Alam kong mananalo din kami balang araw, pana-panahon din lang yan,” Adorador said. “Yung patience namin may kalalabasan.”