Adamson University head coach Air Padda stood by her decision in benching captain Jema Galanza, Eli Soyud, and Chiara Permentilla in the first set of the Lady Falcons’ stunning loss to University of the East on Sunday.
The Lady Falcons were gunning for a share of the third spot with Ateneo, but they wound up dropping to 3-4 while the Lady Warriors took advantage of Padda’s surprise move to take the match in five sets, 25-22, 22-25, 14-25, 25-20, for their first win in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament
“I don’t regret it, I don’t think that was the reason why we lost,” said Padda.
Padda said Galanza rolled her ankle in their previous game against De La Salle while Soyud was sick and the two didn’t even show up for practice the whole week while Permentilla had to take care of family matters.
And with the three not showing up in training, Padda decided to put Bernadette Flora, Chrislyn Uy, and Lea Perez in the starting lineup.
“I have morals as a coach that I have to stick to my own and when you’re not in training the whole week you can’t just show up and play especially if it was a personal choice or whatever came up,” said Padda.
Galanza was Adamson’s leading scorer, prior to facing UE, averaging 13 points a game while Soyud and Permentilla are both averaging a shade less than 10 points an outing.
“I don’t understand how I’m supposed to start you when the other girls have been working hard, they’ve been there,” said Padda. “I don’t want to kill somebody’s dream, my job as a coach was to give everybody an opportunity.”
“I don’t know if I can look at myself and call myself their coach so that was my decision.”