Adamson Lady Falcons set to soar higher with all-star, all-female coaching team

Proving that women can be just as strong in the male-dominated world of sports, Adamson University, together with its sponsor Akari Lighting and Technology Corporation, proudly announces an all-female coaching team for the Adamson University Lady Falcons in the 79th season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) seniors women’s volleyball.

Aiming to soar higher this year, Adamson University Lady Falcons has tapped American coach Airess Padda as head coach. A highly successful athlete-turned-coach, Padda is the founder and director of Malibu Palms Volleyball Club. She began her coaching career with the Hacienda Heights Volleyball Club in 2008 before being appointed as the head coach of the junior varsity team at Sierra Canyon whom she led to a state championship in 2013. Padda also worked as head coach at Malibu High School where in her first season, she took the girl’s team to their best finish to date.

Assisting Padda are returning assistant coaches Cherry Macatangay and Michele Gumabao. Former Golden Tigress Angeli Tabaquero rounds up the all-star Lady Falcons coaching staff.

Macatangay, a multi-titled volleyball player, is a former Adamson Lady Falcon. She was a three-time Best Scorer and a Most Valuable Player (MVP) titlist for the Shakey’s V-League Conference. She was also a member of the national team where she took home a Silver Medal at the 1995 SEA Games.

Meanwhile, Gumabao led the Lady Spikers to a three-peat in the UAAP, proving that she is one of the best defensive players in her league. She bagged two Best Blocker trophies and a Finals MVP award in UAAP 75. Most recently, she took home Finals MVP honors in Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference.

Finally, Tabaquero apart from being a UAAP and Shakey’s V-League champion, was named team captain of the Philippine National Team in the 2013 Asian Championship. She is currently the head coach of the high school volleyball team of Saint Pedro Poveda College.

Padda and the rest of the coaching team will continue to have strong support from Akari, the country’s top lighting and technology brand, as the Lady Falcons vie for the championship title.

“For three years now, we have been supporting Adamson’s basketball and volleyball teams as part of Akari’s youth development and sports programs,” said Russell Balbacal, Akari Lighting and Technology sports director and the Lady Falcons’ team manager. “We hope that the team-up of head coach Airess with Cherry, Michele and Angeli will mold the Lady Falcons into a strong unit, and hopefully clinch the championship title. With their individual success in the UAAP and professional leagues, we are confident that their winning ways and attitude will rub off to our young team.” Akari also supports scholarship projects to reinforce their commitment to education.

Adamson University has produced successful athletes in professional sports. Its women’s volleyball team has landed several UAAP Final Four finishes and a Shakey’s V-League championship title. A UAAP championship title at this point is still a dream but Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM, director of the Office for Athletics and Recreation, is optimistic that the new coach can pave the way to, if not attain, that ultimate goal.
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