Overachievers

It has been a long time since I've posted, but I am overjoyed with the UA&P Lady Dragons. 

From champions of Div. B in both basketball and volleyball, both squads have been elevated to 

the ultra competitive Div. A, wherein the likes of Lyceum and CSB for basketball have made the finals event their own. Meanwhile, the volleyball scene is not much different, with Lyceum and RTU squaring off in the finals for a few years now. 

However, I am not here to talk about the top teams, but rather comment on the vast improvement of the UA&P Dragons. Coming in to the season, not much was expected of our girls since going up a division means facing tough and seasoned opponents. I think a modest goal would be to stay in the division at least. 

Coach Julie of the basketball team faced a dilemma with at least 3 players exiting the squad- graduation and academic commitments. This meant digging deep in her bench to elevate them as starters, and relying on recruiting new and current students in the university. 

As I watched the team play, I was surprised at how much the bench players have improved- skill-wise.

Plus, they were not scared of committing mistakes and learning from them by defeating SSC and LCCM in close games, I knew the team had to build its killer instinct since its best players were now gone, and losing a heart-breaker to RTU, which could have given them the 3rd seed in the semifinals.  Although they lost to Lyceum and St. Benilde by big margins, it did not matter. Ending up as 3rd runner-up on their 1st year, the team went above and beyond what everyone expected of them. They simply responded to the call and I can't wait for another season, wherein the newbies will be more mature.

Kudos to Coach Julie for instilling the right attitude to the players- for dedicating their hearts and minds to the game. Because you may have the hops, the skills, but not the attitude, and you will never reach the altitude you're aiming for. 

Meanwhile, the volleyball team was also elevated to Div. A. I think there were more expectations from them because the core of starting 6 is young, with only 1-2 gone to graduation, and some of the bench has shown glimpses of what they could do, like Jaja Gonzales whose serve is lethal. Though I wasn't able to watch any of their matches since basketball games were held in Lyceum and volleyball games at SSC and on-going at the same time, I know that the team is in the capable hands of Coach Oliver, who believed in this team the most, when we as fans, had our doubts. 

The season may have started off on the wrong foot, with 2 straight loses to perennial finalists Lyceum and RTU. With their backs against the wall, the Lady Dragons hacked out a 5 set win against MC. However, they lost their last elimination game in straight sets to SBCA. With only 5 teams in Div. A, (CEU is supposed to be the other team, however, CSB did not field a team this year. So, to balance out the teams, CEU remained in Div. B, in spite of the bridesmaid finish last season).

After the eliminations, the quarterfinals scene was set, with UA&P vs. SBCA. The lady Dragons managed to win with a 5 set thriller, with the 5th set, going the Dragons way at 15-13. The final score: 25-16, 22-25, 23-25, 25-21, 13-15 the girls have a flair for the dramatic, which reminds of their win against CEU in the finals last year. The win pitted the Lady Dragons against the Lady Pirates, with the victor facing RTU in the finals.

Is Selina Artadi still with the team? I think she would have made some difference, but the journey ends here for the Lady Dragons, falling to 3 straight sets to Lyceum. UA&P finishes 2nd runner-up on its 1st year in Div. A. Well done!

Award-wise, UA&P didn't reap individual awards this year, but what's more important is that both teams have overcome expectations and overachieved. A 3rd and 2nd runner-up on Div. A is no easy feat. I'm upbeat for the 42nd season that both teams will continue to work hard and mature. Truly, both teams have showed us what it takes to be successful on and off court.