Atlas turned Falcon: Is the future bright for
JPIA-AdU’s MVT? the backseat when his father disagreed to
Written by: Noah T. Lumbo
The JPIA-AdU MVT may have ended their rally in
the recent 16th NCR JPIALympics Mataya Taya
last January 13, 2019 in Marikina Sports Center
with a 2-1 record, but surely they did not
disappoint their winning contender by giving
them a good match. One thing to note on that
match was the game changing performance of a
rookie from Laguna.
Amidst the defeat the team had during their
match against the Pamatasan ng Lungsod ng
Pasig – was a sight to reckon with in the coming
days for the JPIA-AdU MVT.
Joseph Leonard F. Gadiana commonly called as
“Piolo”, was born on the 5th of September in the
year 1999, in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental. Piolo
started to play for a team during his 8 th grade in
the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta –
Laguna. It may look like that everything worked
for him as early as 14 years old, but the journey
he took was definitely a shaky one.
His pathway towards the discovery of the sport
started in the very streets of his neighborhood.
He was a keen observant in every game he
watches—learning the player’s movement in
the court. Little did he know this sport would
actually change his life. According to Piolo, it
was his Araling Panlipunan teacher in 5 th grade
who first saw his potential for the sport. He was
immediately referred to the school coach who
administer try outs. His talent and skill caught
the attention of University of Perpetual Help
System Dalta – Laguna Campus. A scholarship
grant was offered to him in exchange of the
campus varsity program, but his family had to
turn down this compelling opportunity due to
security reasons. What he thought was a
possible trampoline to his career was placed in
transfer him to a different school. Despite this,
Piolo remained optimistic.
“Nung di ako pinayagan ni Papa mag laro para
sa Perpetual kasi 5 minutes walk lang yung dati
kong school sa bahay, nalungkot at nang
hinayang ako. Baka kasi yung mga friends ko nag
lalaro o nagrerepresent na ng team nila sa mga
nang recruit na school sakanila. Pero nakinig na
lang ako kay Papa kasi alam ko Dnamang ginawa
niya yun for me,” Piolo said. His patience and
understanding bore fruit a year after when his
father finally allowed him to play for the Atlas.
Balancing figure
Being a student athlete was difficult according
to the 19 year old libero. But it taught him vital
learnings to grow better as a person. Attached
to being a student athlete is the responsibility to
maintain his academic standing. “Pag atleta ka
kasi dalawa lang naman ang pwede mangyari.
Pag di ka nag-aral di ka makakalaro or pag puro
bagsak ka mawawalan ka ng scholarship.
Kelangan i-manage talaga yung time,
pagkatapos ng training uuwi agad and gawin
agad lahat ng homework or mag-advance
reading”. With this in mind, it shaped him to
become more disciplined in training and in
academics.
Soar to the future
His plans for the coming federation is to recruit
more and not settle for less due to reason of the
capacity of a player. “If may gusto mag try out
isali lang para in the long run pag may review na
yung mga seniors at busy na sila para sa boards,
merong players na nai-mold para sumabak sa
laro”. Some of the qualities he often look for the
possible players includes commitment,
eagerness, and willingness: Commitment to the
sport, Eagerness to win, and Willingness to Photos
learn.

The Season 16th NCAA-South Best Libero shared

the attributes he think a team captain should
possess. “Being a captain is a big responsibility.
Based on my experience as Co-Captain mahirap
na what if Captain pa mismo (pertaining to the
possibility of not being a good role model to his
team),” his sentiment on being a team leader.
For him, a team captain should continuously
motivate his team. An encouraging leader is the
key for a volleyball team. After all, volleyball is a
(Planned Main photo for the feature ^)
team sport. A team captain would not win a
match without its five (5) other team mates.

On his final words, he gave the JPIA-AdU

community a message to look forward to.
“Syempre sila kuya Dave and kuya Francis
magsta-stand out for the team next year pero
siguro one thing to expect next year, we will
bounce back and come out strong. Gagalingan
pa namin para ma-achieve yung end game ng
team, which is a Championship sa kahit anong
league. Expect a fiercer, stronger and more
competitive men’s MVT. One mantra that I keep
on reminding myself is that ‘Don’t stop when
you’re tired, stop when you’re done’”.

Will he shed a light of hope for the team on the

upcoming games?
 Falcons brought home Some Bacon/s! During the course of the competition, the team
admitted that pressure gets them whenever
Amazing Race
they see other local chapters who went ahead
The Falcons barged into the winning column by of them. With sheer focus, determination and
being the 2nd runner up in the recently teamwork combined, the team ended their race
concluded Amazing Race in the 16th NCR at a podium finish bringing the bronze medal to
JPIALympics: Mataya Taya Commemorating the organization.
Traditions Sustaining Innovations last January
The team beat the odds of all the peculiarity of
13, 2019 at the Oval in the Marikina Sports
the different stations. Despite the scorching
Center.
heat that drained the team physically and
Perseverance and teamwork, reiterated mentally, they still manage to show the might of
repeatedly by the team. It was this a soaring falcon in the oval.
characteristic that pushed the team to claim the
(Juan Angelo Amada, Jeryco Briones, Kenneth
1st win of Adamson University in the league. But
Cidro, Dave Hermosado, Jude Benedict Juanane,
before they had the taste of victory, they sure
Moshedyan Rovic Maquinto, Jeren Miralles
faced several difficult and challenging stations
Rolan Palquiran)
such as Face your Cards, Itumba mo, Lata ko,
Dugtong Dugtong para Makamove on, and Let’s Patintero
Shoot our Jolens station to name a few.
A team of five, marked as midgets of the
What gave the team extreme difficulty was the competition, exemplified an outstanding
Itumba mo, Lata ko station. The game’s performance by bringing home the
objective was very simple: to hit at least one tin championship for Patintero in the recently held
can. However, this wasn’t the case to JPIA-AdU, 16th NCR JPIALympics in Marikina Sports Center
the team became lax on the idea of hitting one last January 13, 2019.
tin can in which they suffered the
Hazel Salvador, leader of the team, explained
consequences. It took the team a lot of time for
that their strategy on the game made the
them to finish the game plus the weather was
difference for the team. “Basta ang napag-
not on their side. The wind changed the
usapan namin pag papasok na kami sa first line
trajectory of the ball causing the ball to miss.
kelangan sumigaw or gulantangin/gulatin yung
“Kaya naman halos lahat ng stations, eto lang
bantay sa 2nd line para makuha mo yung
talagang lata yung mahirap na station kasi ang
attention niya and makapasok yung other
layo tapos hinahangin pa yung bola” answered
teammate mo since nagulat siya and nakafocus
by Dave Hermosado when asked about the
lang siya sayo”. Surprisingly, this routine
struggles they encountered during the race. The
provided the team continuous win. This routine
ball didn’t play favor among teams with its
paved the way for the team to continue their
texture being in plastic makes every team to
winning streak and thereafter reach the
undergo the same difficulty. With rigorous trial,
championship match against the competitive
the team managed to find the perfect strength
NCBA (National College for Business and the
and timing in hitting the can that brought
Arts)
outburst of happiness and pride among the
team.
“Ang hirap kalabanin ng NCBA kasi ang hahaba
ng mga galamay nila kaya nakaka-intimidate
talaga, pero ayun teamwork and tiwala lang
talaga sa team na makakaya namin” when
asked about the struggles they encountered
during their match.

Despite the difficulties the team had, they made

sure that their opponent had received their
message. As cliché as it goes, “They are small
but terrible”. This might be a minor game per
se, but a win is win and they’ll take it.

(Dianne Tricia Esperanza, Ma. Hazel Vera Flaga,

Mariella Muñoz, Hazel Salvador, Justine Linneth
Ruiz)