Victory remains uncertain until the final whistle blows, and this truth is deeply ingrained in the ethos of the Adamson Lady Falcons. Their unwavering tenacity was on full display during the recent encounter with the La Salle Lady Spikers.

Trailing by a daunting nine points with the scoreboard showing 11-20 in the fourth set, the Lady Falcons summoned a remarkable surge of determination during the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals Game One finale held at the FilOil EcoOil Center on the evening of August 9th.

Adamson’s head coach, JP Yude, shared his motivating perspective, “Facing La Salle, we often find ourselves cast as the underdogs. But now, we’re determined to make them earn every point. Our path to victory demands a spirited fight.”

Demonstrating their indomitable spirit, the Lady Falcons orchestrated an impressive 11-1 rally, propelling them to a 22-21 advantage. Engaging in a tense exchange with the reigning UAAP champions, they clinched the set with a score of 27-25, thus prolonging the match into a climactic decider.

Red Bascon’s consecutive pivotal plays served as a catalyst, leading the match into an extension. She replicated her crucial contributions in the final stage, as Adamson executed a stunning upset over La Salle with set scores of 22-25, 25-17, 17-25, 27-25, and 16-14.

Coach Yude’s unwavering belief in his team was evident as he stated, “I consistently instill my trust in them. Particularly in that fourth set, despite being behind, I reminded them that the game was far from over. I urged them to focus on one play at a time.”

The message clearly resonated, with players absorbing his guidance and manifesting it through their renewed posture and determination. “My words must have struck a chord, as they internalized the message that ‘it’s not over yet.’ They reshaped their body language, and their zeal to push forward was unmistakable,” Yude added.

Captain Lucille Almonte emerged as a standout, amassing an impressive 24 points, leading the charge for the Lady Falcons. Their victory places them in a position to potentially conclude the best-of-3 series on Saturday, a testament to their remarkable resilience and unwavering drive. (ai/mnm)