Bang Pineda is excited to be back in the UAAP, only this time at the sidelines where she will be plotting the winning scheme for the Lady Falcons. 

The collegiate spiker turned pro libero will be assistant to fellow Adamson homegrown JP Yude as the team’s head coach this Season 86. 

“Very excited kasi ma-sshare ko sa kanila ‘yung experience ko as a player before,” said Pineda. 

Last June, the school decided to stop looking elsewhere and instead tap homegrown players as its coaching staff, something that Pineda was grateful to be a part of. 

Pineda, who is playing with the Akari Chargers in the PVL, is confident of the Adamson rotation as it eyes another Final Four appearance this season despite the departure of key players. 

“Siguro one at a time sila kumilos at ready naman sila this coming UAAP season,” she said. 

If there ever was any offseason indication, though, it was that the Lady Falcons proved their skills and maturity beyond the UAAP. 

In the 2023 Shakey's Super League National Invitational, the squad finished as runners-up to the De La Salle Lady Spikers before seeing action in the Akari Cup — where they gained precious experience. 

With UAAP teams losing their players to the pros left and right, Adamson probably took one of the biggest blows. 

The team’s previous top scorers Trisha Tubu and Kate Santiago as well as setter Louie Romero have all decided to forgo a significant number of playing years. 

In a string of unfortunate events, middle blocker Lorene Toring suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in January — leaving Lucille Almonte all alone as the only one left of the team’s core. 

“Nakaka-adjust naman kami sa training day by day. At nakakapag-adapt naman lahat. Thankful kami na smooth naman ‘yung training namin,” said Almonte. 

“[Although] sobrang laking adjustment kasi isa ako sa mga naiwan from last season. Kailangan ko talagang mag-step up and i-guide ng maayos ‘yung team. Sobrang blessed ko kasi andiyan rin naman ‘yung mga coaches para i-guide ako at ‘yung team.”

The Lady Falcons, though, will get acid test as they kick off the season against defending champion Lady Spikers on Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Mall of Asia Arena.