ADAMSON University Head Coach Ana Santiago expressed caution for a fifth straight title after losing key Lady Falcons to graduation in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 77 softball tournament that resumes on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Lady Falcons drew an opening-day bye and are debuting this season against University of Santo Tomas (UST) at 9 a.m.
In the other matches on Wednesday, it will be University of the East (1-0) against Ateneo de Manila (0-1) at 11 a.m., and De La Salle University (1-0) against University of the Philippines (0-1) at 1 p.m.
Santiago, a former Lady Falcon herself, lost key players Cindy Banay, Rizza Bernardino, Luzviminda Embudo, Elvie Entrina and Julie Marie Muyco—all part of the team’s “four-peat” campaigns from 2011 to 2014—to graduation.
“Katulad ito ng situation namin ‘nung nakaraang ‘four-peat’ namin, laging nagbabago ang composition ng team. Ngayon, medyo malaki rin ang nawala sa grupo namin, kasi part sila ng first nine namin, mga heavy hitter pa, tsaka pitcher pa,” Santiago said.
“Medyo malaki ang adjustment na pinri-pare namin ngayon. Medyo hindi ganun ka-solid ang defense namin ngayon compared sa past, and ang hitting namin ‘di ganun ka-consistent. So let’s see. You cannot tell [this early] kung kanino itong season na ito. But we will try our best,” she added.
In their place are four rookies who she hopes to mature quickly to keep Adamson University in the running and, at the same time, extend their winning streak at 48 games further.
Diego de la Paz