UAAP78 WV: The Woes of Adamson University Lady Falcons

I’m not an expert but it is common sense that the Adamson University Lady Falcons team is making a mess right now. The only saving grace that’s keeping me to still support them is Jessica ‘Jema’ Galanza. Without her, the team is definitely doomed.

It’s a shame really because Jema’s performance and great game, so far, would be terribly wasted in a team like ADU LF. I read some comments that said she should just transfer to another school, i.e. UP. If that is possible, why not?! If only that happens…

Watching her playing with her team, it’s as if she is fighting an already lost battle. It’s painful to see, to be honest. How can you enjoy the way ADU LF is currently playing? We can probably name everything that is wrong. So, that’s my cue to present my list of what I think is this team’s WOES. (Disclaimer: these are only constructive criticisms meant to make the coaching staff and/or management of this team aware of the following, and to address it immediately, otherwise, they are undoubtedly fighting a losing battle. I’m just a concerned fan.)

1. ERROR PARTY – They could have won their game against UST in three-straight sets if not for those errors in 3^rd and 4^th sets. Against NU, after they won the 1^st set, they went on vacation and their heads were not in the game. Jema tried to rally her team at the latter part of the 3^rd and 4^th sets but it was already too late. Reception errors, coverage and missing floor defense caused them to lose against DLSU. Recently, those net touch against UP were SO costly, not to mention that it happened during the crucial moments of the match. It is the only department this team is most consistent with this season – their unforced errors. If I would estimate the errors they commit each game, it is about 20-30. That’s a lot! In basketball, if you have that much turnovers, you have a BIG big problem.
2. ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST FLAWS, THEIR VERY WEAK ROQUE-DACORON-EMNAS FRONTLINE – This is the rotation where Jema is working so hard receiving and digging the ball on the back row while Paat is too stiff to move and have a good floor defense. Since Jema is on the back and she’s the main scorer, this is when Roque is left with some pressure and huge responsibility to play better or as good as when Jema is on the front, not play worse. And though Roque can ‘somewhat’ deliver points to help their team, most of us get worried every time she’s in front because it’s HARDER for her to score. Her attack success rate is lower than Jema. That’s why there were times when Emnas would give the ball to those in the back row, Jema and Paat, as their other options to score. She has to be more reliable and consistent in front. With Dacoron and Emnas, please read number 3 and 4, respectively.
3. INCONSISTENT MIDDLE HITTERS – I don’t remember in those four games that they played so far that Dacoron and Alkuino had a CLEAN game where they scored more than they gave away points to their opponent by their own errors. It will be a breath of fresh air if these two will have a good game, scoring more than being a liability in front. Their two of the weakest players in the line-up.
4. Speaking of weakest players… I’ll probably give the number one in the ranking to their setter, Emnas. A WEAK AND OPEN-CENTRIC SETTER – Now, don’t be fooled by Emnas’ ranking as third in the recent Best Setters list. She lacks variation with her sets. When everyone is rattled, she’ll succumb to the pressure and make bad decisions, which would compromise their plays. A setter is the point guard in basketball. You pretty much dictate the tempo. So, if you are out of tune, that’s not good. Some have suggested that ADU should take a risk and let another setter take the reign from Emnas. It’s either that or Emnas should improve her volleyball IQ as a setter. Again, if she continues what she is doing wrong, this team is DOOMED.
5. THE SOON-TO-BE, IF NOT ALREADY, IGNORANT COACHING STAFF – I’m not sure what their plans are at this point… because after four games, nothing is obviously working. In fact, I think it’s so silly how they handled their past games when they lost. You’d think they will learn from their loss to NU and address their issues for their match against DLSU. Nope. That game was even WORSE… It’s their worst game this season. And again, just when you think that they will sort out the flaws that were super exposed in that game, and bounce back in their match against UP, we all should not expect too much because we’re gonna end up being disappointed AGAIN. I read someone’s comment who suggested that they should fire ADU LF’s current head coach and assign someone who’s MUCH better. Imagine the wrong decisions he made… with the substitutions and untimely time-outs. Why not substitute the players who are not playing well instead of the players who are actually playing well? How many more misjudgments he will commit? It’s either they do their job well or resign and transfer the leadership to those who are MUCH MORE competent.  Otherwise, their goal of making it in the Final Four is DOOMED, again.
6. THE INCONSISTENCY and ATTITUDE of their almost-undeserving team captain – I already sort of expected that Paat would be their team captain this season… and I didn’t mind. But I do mind now. I already pointed this out in my last blog post. The coaching staff of ADU LF has quite a knack in picking the ‘wrong’ type of team captain. I mean, not because you are the vocal one and the most senior player in your team, you are the best choice to be the team captain. As a former student leader myself, you have to always LEAD by example. That’s probably the first quality you will find in a good leader. Vocal encouragement or pep talk to your team mates can only do so much. It’s going to be useless when you, yourself, are playing REALLY bad. If that’s how you are leading by example, then, it’s gonna suck BIG. Instead of boosting the morale of your whole team, you are the one dragging them deep deep down. Her attitude on court when her team is trying to catch a huge lead is not helping. She’s inconsistent. Her point distribution for her team… When Jema couldn’t score, like with their game against DLSU, did she step up, knowing that she’s the team captain? Her floor defense is questionable. When she’s on the back, she becomes a liability. Watch those four games and you’ll see what I’m saying. Lastly, her errors give me extreme headache as much as with Dacoron and more than Alkuino.
7. THE FAMOUS PATENTED ADU LF FLOOR DEFENSE IS MIA – ADU LF had always been known for their great floor defense. They don’t have the tallest players who would block but they are going to make it up by digging the ball. Though they are the current number one Best Digging team and their libero Tempiatura is the number one Best Digger, their FD is still shaky and not at par with the expected ADU LF FD. Tempiatura is reliable so far. Apart from the libero, Jema’s FD is actually good. She’s the only ADU LF player who’s with Tempiatura in the current Best Diggers and Best Receivers ranking. While others NEED to step up their game too or else, it’s not going to be enough. Roque’s weak FD was actually exposed so much during their last game against UP.
8. THE LACK IN BLOCKING – They are the 4^th Best Blocking team and Dacoron is actually the 3^rd Best Blocker. But again, don’t be fooled. They have yet a LOT to improve in this skill department. Though they have a taller team this season that should translate to more blocks and better blocking but that’s not the case. Due to the inconsistency of Dacoron and Alkuino, they are not really getting their groove when it comes to blocking. Paat and Emnas sometimes fill the gap but it’s not enough. If the middle blockers can be consistent and the other players would contribute as well, then it’d be better. Otherwise, it’s going add more problems for the team. Furthermore, Jema and Roque should work on their blocking too. I also pointed this out in my last blog post that this is what’s missing for Jema. During their game against UP, it’s like she actually heard me because she freaking had THREE blocks! I was SO GLAD.
9. PERFECT THE BACK-ROW ATTACKS OF GALANZA AND PAAT – With the rotation of ADU LF, there can be an option for back-row attacks by Jema and Paat. The only problem is, it hasn’t gotten to where it’s already seamless. During those four games, Paat was given more chance to do back-row attacks and less were given to Jema. It was only in their game against UP that we finally saw Jema do back-row attacks and I was blown away with that ONE particular back-row kill that she did… it was perfection. If only they had more back-row kills like that one… then it’ll be more convenient even though it could be tiring for both Galanza and Paat, but more on Galanza since she is the first outside hitter and main scoring option of ADU LF.