The Winning Attitude

Being a coach is a thankless job. You get the frustrations of the players and ire of the supporters when you lose, the players get the credit when the team wins. The coach is the soul of the team, the glue that keeps them together, a parent to advise them, a mentor and a teacher who will develop them as players and persons. One who is patient when things go wrong, or when players develop slower than you think they should. The coach is the leader, wherein everyone listens, not what they want to hear, but what they can learn and develop from.


In her maiden season with the UA&P as head coach, Julie Amos has turned things around for the perennial cellar-dwellers, UA&P Lady Dragons. Coming in Feb 2009, the team reached their 1st Finals appearance in MBT on February or March. 


A few months later, and losing several veterans to graduation, but compensated with Claire Capisonda's (13) arrival, the Dragons barged into the Finals, with a clean slate of 4-0 at the end of eliminations. However, they faced a tough LCCM Blue Royals squad, led by Mythical 5 members Jennelyn Capistrano and Hazel Mangabat, who gave them heckuva fight, until a last second shot by MVP Ara Biolena sealed their fate for the 3rd and final game of the WNCAA 40th Season, Seniors B Championship.


Currently, the team may be lacking in talent compared to the other teams, but not in defense, heart and hustle. I sense that nobody feels superior within the team, i.e. player A is a star and should have more playing time. Many of them are rookies raw in talent and experience, but the winning attitude of the team has been evident, defeating LCCM Blue Royals in the opening game 57-47. The team is now led by Katrine Catalan (4) who showed her resiliency and skill in the 3rd game of last year's finals via lay-ups and excellent free-throw shooting.


Today, 15th Aug, the Lady Dragons escaped with a narrow win against SSC Scions, 67-57, who wouldn't let up until the last few seconds, with the help of twins Kay and Kate Del Rosario (14 & 15), and backstopped by PG Justine Ferrer (8), who tried to rally their team towards overtime.


Today's game was different as coach Julie shuffled her wards, due to early foul troubles with her starters PG Claire Capisonda (13), and vastly-improved C Mariel Sison (9). This meant calling on the bench, and they have responded well. Especially Patty Regalado (6), who hustled for rebounds and 2nd chance points, which relieved the tired starters and gave them the energy they needed. Capisonda stayed seated on the bench until the dying minutes of the game, this meant coach Julie's confidence in her wards, especially that they all came to play defense, and there was no need to risk Claire of fouling out. Overall, it was a great team effort, though there were lapses when they allowed the Scions to get into the thick of the fight after the 'brown-out'.


Thanks to Richela Solatorio's (11) timely 3-point baskets, Claire Capisonda (13) and Syl Alcantara's (7) exploits that allowed the Lady Dragons to have some cushion in the last few seconds. Costly turnovers in the dying seconds sealed the fate of the Scions. 


Team Standings, as of 16th Aug 2010


Basketball


Seniors A                          Seniors B
Teams            W-L            Teams         W-L
LPU                2-0             CEU            1-1
CSB               2-0             PWU            2-0
UA&P     2-1            MC               1-0
RTU               1-1             EAC             0-0
SSC              0-2             SBCA          0-2
LCCM           0-3


UA&P will have their rest on the 22nd Aug, but will be facing the 4-peat champs, LPU Lady Pirates on 29th Aug 2010. Go Dragons!
Many thanks to the coaching staff of: Julie Amos, Ellie Chua!