Loss to UP ‘huge reality check,’ says Adamson coach

New Adamson coach Airess Padda. Photo by Bong Lozada/INQUIRER.net

Airess Padda’s first UAAP day as head coach didn’t go exactly the way she wanted it to be.

Adamson University was at the mercy of University of the Philippines, losing in straight sets, 25-18, 25-11, 25-18, in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament. 

And Padda said their season-opener couldn’t have come down on them harder.

“The first game was a huge reality check for the girls, it’s like somebody slapped us in the face and now they know this is what’s it going to be,” said Padda Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Adamson didn’t have any answers for UP’s offense. The Lady Maroons unleashed 15 service aces and 27 spikes. UP also scored eight off blocks.

Padda said the Lady Falcons couldn’t ever mask the fact they are a smaller team compared to UP and they don’t have the same offensive prowess of the Lady Maroons.

“I identified to them our weaknesses, there’s nothing to hide it,” said Padda. “We’re much smaller, we don’t have the fire power, we’re under experienced, but we’re going to embrace that and we’re going to work hard.”

Adamson’s tallest players are 5-foot-11 middle blocker Mary Joy Dacoron and 5-foot-8 Maria Joaquin who also plays middle blocker.

UP, however, has a 6-footer Maristela Layug in the middle and a couple of 5-foot-10 players in Kathy Bersola and Diana Carlos.

More so, Adamson’s roster is almost made up of Team B players who haven’t had a chance to play in the big stage for the past couple of years making their opener their first game in the UAAP.