UAAP Volleyball Preview: Changing the mindset priority for Adamson

Adamson Lady Falcons during their training for the upcoming UAAP women’s volleyball season. Photo by Bong Lozada/INQUIRER.net

Head coach: Airess Padda
Last season: 3-11 (7th)
Key losses: Mylene Paat, Erika Alkuino, Fhen Emnas
Key addition: Chrislyn Uy

Adamson University took the phrase “out with the old, in with the new” quite literally.

After the sudden resignation of longtime head coach Sherwin Meneses, the Lady Falcons put septuagenarian mentor Domingo Custodio on interim basis but let him go after a subpar 3-11 record in Season 78.

But this new season will be a whole new different for the Lady Falcons who now have the 31-year-old Airess Padda as their head coach and collegiate legends Angelique Tabaquero and Michelle Gumabao as the deputies.

READ: Lady Falcons set to soar under new coach

Padda is embracing the underdog mentality for the 2017 tournament but she is confident she has put in enough work to start the change in the culture of the Lady Falcons.

“We’re the underdog this year and when you look at us, you don’t see a big team with a lot of height,” said Padda.

“A lot of girls coming into the program had the mindset of being like ‘oh we’re always good at defense but we don’t win, or we’re never in the Final Four,’ it’s all about the mindset and changing that because as an athlete if you don’t believe of accomplishing something you won’t achieve it.”

READ: Lady Falcons draw inspiration from men’s basketball

But odds are stacked against the Lady Falcons, whose tallest player Mary Joy Dacoron is six inches smaller than National U’s Jaja Santiago, who is listed as 6’5”.

Adamson was also subject to a great deal of player departures with veterans Mylene Paat, Erika Alkuino, and Fhen Emnas leaving due to graduation.

And with that so much experience gone, Padda is looking at Jema Galanza to take the captain’s role and take over Paat’s work as leader.

READ: New coach brings mental toughness to ‘underdog’ Lady Falcons

“She has the most experience, she’s considered the senior on our team even though she has one more playing year left,” said Padda. “She works hard and she’s always going for it and she’s consistent at that.”

“She leads by example and that’s important.”