A Peek Into the Falcons’ Den

It’s five in the afternoon, Trisha Genesis, Thang Ponce, Louie Romero and the rest of the
Adamson Lady Falcons are gathered on the SV Fascade. Eyes closed, seated around the Jubillee statue of
St. Vincent de Paul and Dr. George Lucas Adamson, the girls take steady breaths, one after another—in
through the nose, out through the mouth, clearing their minds in deep meditation. Closely watching
them, champion coach Tai Bundit who is pacing around, mentally mapping out the drills he has in store
for the girls. Calm, clear and focused, this how the Lady Falcons have been preparing for UAAP Season
82.

Ever since Mozzy Ravena joined the Lady Falcons as team rebuilding consultant, the girls gained
a “tita” who, through her long experience with the sport, was familiar with the needs of growing
athletes which stretches beyond the obvious—improving their skills, increasing their mental toughness
and addressing their emotional needs.

Through her careful consideration, tita Mochi, as the Lady Falcons would lovingly call her,
suggested and requested to the Akari management, to provide seemingly small things that make a huge
difference in the long run.

“Kapag may kailangan kami-- kay Tita Mochi,” sophomore Krich Macaslang described how
approachable Mozzy has been as an active consultant to the team. It didn’t take long for them to create
a bond, with the elder spiker frequently visiting the Falcons’ den, finding out the needs of the young
Falcons.

Through their open communication and cooperation with management, the Lady Falcons were
supplied with essentials-- training equipment, balls and nets, as well as some of their more specific
needs. Rollers, ice baths, and supplements have also been supplied to the team, ensuring their physical
development is taken care of beyond the skills used on the court.

“The food, bus, transportation, lahat ginagawa nila ng paraan,” said rookie Maveth Torres about
how Akari management has been providing the needs of the team. “Wala kaming masabi, hindi sila
nagkulang sa pagbigay ng support.”

For the Lady Falcons, their bond doesn’t stop when they leave the four corners of the court. As
some have put it, “Kung sino kasama mo sa court, sila pa rin kasama sa bahay.” This includes coach
Lerma Giron.

Described as a motivator and disciplinarian, coach Lerma encourages her players to push
through the struggles of life and maintains discipline beyond the realm of sports. Mama Lerms, they
lovingly call her, “She’s the mother na naghahandle sa’min.”

Allowing the team head coach live under the same roof as the players is something Adamson
management picked up from their other successful programs. Athletics Director Fr. Aldrin Suan
explained, “Naririnig yung damdamin [ng players] eh. We’re moving away from the idea of players and
coaches only mentoring skills. We’re going toward them being mentors in life. To address their
emotional needs.”
 Small quirks like knowing who of them likes to sleep with the lights open, who rises early and
who snores the loudest all build toward creating a tight bond of sisterhood. This tight bond allows them
to have open communication across the team, among management, among coaches and especially
among players. With players free to express their feelings, negative issues can be resolved before they
have a chance to affect their training or even their games.

When Tai Bundit, a coach famed for his life-changing training regimen, is handling your training,
there’s no room for internal issues to hinder training. With the occasional joke to lighten their spirits,
coach Tai is using his championship experience and strict demeanor to ensure that the Lady Falcons are
ready for the coming UAAP tournament. Calm, clear and focused, with a coach that they trust,
management that looks out for them and a community that supports them, the Lady Falcons endure the
daily grind in hopes that they will soar victorious in the end.