Lady Falcons mentor Ryan Monteclaro keeps winning on special day for his late father.
There was a lot to be happy about for Adamson Lady Falcons head coach Ryan Monteclaro as his team eked out a big win over the DLSU Lady Archers, 72-49, to get back on the winning column in UAAP Season 87 on Saturday.
Apart from signaling a quick recovery after their loss to FEU the game before, it was also a special personal milestone for Monteclaro who is in his second year of calling the shots with the women’s team.
Saturday marked his late father’s birthday, and that meant that the win meant even more.
“Me personally, parang na-ano 'yung trend ko. Today is my late father’s birthday. So every October 19, di ko nga jini-jinx, 'di ko sinabi sa mga players, lagi akong nanalo ng game,” quipped Monteclaro on Saturday night.
“So it’s a personal thing today na I’m gonna win for my dad. So I’m really happy kasi the stars aligned for us today.”
The Lady Falcons are in the midst of a resurgent campaign in Season 87, after missing out on the Final Four since the league returned from the pandemic. Now with their feet firmly in the upper half of the standings at 6-3, it’s shaping up to be a great season.
But as Monteclaro and his players have learned, there’s no space for complacency in a league as competitive as the UAAP.
Even as they expressed complete belief in themselves, it’s not going to get them anywhere unless they keep themselves level headed and focused on what they want to do.
“With the challenges in front of us, I kept telling these players na you know with the loss last game, we can beat anyone, that’s my perception. We can beat any team, we can play neck to neck.” said Monteclaro.
“But again, if we don’t play within our system, we did what we wanted to do, any team can beat us — even the bottom bracket teams. The term here is we cannot relax until we get in. Katok nang katok.” he added.
Up next on the schedule for Monteclaro and the Lady Falcons are the UP Fighting Maroons, whom they face on Sunday, October 27, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.