They end the first round—and their win-less streak—with a straight set victory over UP.
“Magtiwala at maniwala.”
The Adamson University Soaring Falcons have held on to this mantra espoused by coach George Pascua, and they never let go of it amid six straight losses to start off Season 85.
In their seventh game of the year, against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, the boys of San Marcelino finally break through and get their first win in straight sets, 25-16, 25-19, 25-22.
Evander Novillo, who led the team with 11 points, feels like this is a milestone that can pave the way for them to turn around their season.
But for him, it’s really just a matter of believing in their own abilities.
“Sa unang laro namin talaga, kaya naman kasi namin lahat [ng teams] eh. ‘Yung naging problema lang kasi parang nawalan kami ng tiwala sa sarili,” said Novillo.
Taking control of the mental game, the spiker says, allows them to remain composed and to stay faithful to their game plan.
“Saka isang problema rin ‘yung ‘di kami nag-stick sa game play namin, kung anong plano talaga namin, kung anong ginagawa namin sa training, ‘yun ‘yung parang kailangan naming gawin sa game. ‘Yun ‘yung nawawala the following games na natalo kami.”
Pascua himself said the boys proved that they let go of those bad tendencies in this game, which even saw UP take a lead in the third set.
“Alam ko naman na kontrolado nila ‘yung laro, ang hindi lang ano doon kapag nagbago ng mindset,” the coach said.
Novillo then went on to seal the win with two aces, demonstrating the two aspects of the game that Pascua has been preaching: the right mindset and fulfilling the game plan.
“Ang pinaka-mindset ko talaga is kung kaya kong tapusin sa serve, tatapusin ko na kasi mas mahihirapan pa kami ‘pag mag-rally rally pa,” said Novillo. “Sa game plan namin, mayroon kaming target talaga, kung sino tatargetin na mahina sa receive. Dapat doon ka mag-stick.”
Adamson carries these lessons to the second round, looking to improve their 1-6 card. UP, meanwhile, regressed to 0-7.
(With reports from Rainier Mira, One Sports Digital)