She and other Filipina footballers walked years ago so today’s women footballers can run. Now, she is still in the beautiful game, this time encouraging others to take up the sport.

From the roar of the field to the more reserved halls of the academic realm, Rebecca “Adrick” Adri, PhD, who was once a standout softball player at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and a pioneering member of the Philippine Women's National Football Team, now brings her lifelong passion and love for the game to younger generation of Thomasians.

From an early age of six, Adri knew she was destined for greatness in the world of sports. Growing up in Manila, her natural talent was a cut above the rest as the country's beloved game of basketball became her first arena to shine.

"My athleticism is already in me. I run fast, I throw hard, I shoot accurately, and I can pull off a lot of moves. Whenever I see someone performing a move, I know I can do it too, and when I try, I strive to perfect it," she said.

Her talent and skill soon led her to discover new horizons beyond the nation's favorite sport.

First ball

Adri discovered softball as a high school student at the Marikina Institute of Science and Technology.

One day, she caught sight of her teachers playing the game. The rhythm of every hit and the sound of the catcher’s mitt captivated her to learn this sport.

"I developed my playing [at school] where the dorms of the softball national teams, the Blu Boys and Blu Girls, were there. Their practice sessions were held in Marikina, so I got to watch them and think, 'I can do this,'" Adri recalled.

From that moment on, the gritty maverick pushed her talents even further as she devoted herself into learning softball, playing almost every position on the field during her high school years.

Her dedication didn’t go unnoticed as she caught the attention of several coaches from across the metro, all eager to recruit her for their teams.

Although she received offers from multiple universities, including the University of the Philippines (UP) and Far Eastern University (FEU), Adri made the pivotal decision to continue her athletic career at UST.

She not only became a key player but also earned a slew of individual accolades, including rookie of the year, most valuable player, and various special awards throughout her four-year stay with the UST Softbelles.

Asked why she joined UST, Adri said, "Maybe it was because my friends were here [in UST]. Or maybe the coach personally asked me to join. Or maybe it was destiny."

Adri graduated from the University with a degree of Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in Physical Education, in 1982.

Despite her accomplishments, Adri admitted that her true dreams lay elsewhere. She always dreamt of becoming a lawyer, but the course she chose wasn’t precisely aligned with that aspiration.

Still, as life often does, the ball rolled in unexpected directions, and she found herself following a path that would lead her to places she hadn’t anticipated.

Second calling

In her last year at the University, former UST football coach Bolin Miranda encouraged her to try football. However, she was hesitant as the game required endurance and patience to score.

But after some reflection, she decided to take the plunge: "Why not give it a try?" she stated. And that decision changed her life.

Adri instantly took on the pitch like a natural. Within the same year, she joined the Philippine Air Force (PAF) football team and continued playing for UST’s softball team while finishing her studies.

(Photo on the left: Adri wearing #16 suited up for the Philippine Air Force women’s football team circa 1983. Photo on the right: Adri played as a sweeper and full-back for the Philippine team. Photos from: Philippine Football Historical Archives)

The grueling training on the pitch from 6 to 8 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. was not a walk in the park.

"Studying and balancing a football career, it all came at the same time. I was able to do it, but it was hard. It was tough," she said.

Adri’s dream was always to represent the Philippines on the national stage. While playing college softball and football at the same time, she was given a rare opportunity to be considered for both national teams.

"Pasok na pareho, dapat. Kaya lang sabi ko, I am going to kill myself (because of the tight schedule). So, I think I won't be able to do it," she said.

In the end, she chose football. The PAF offered a more promising future, and Adri became part of the first-ever Philippine women's football team, which was founded in 1980.

(Photo on the left: Adri, one of the team’s defenders, received her bronze medal at their first 13th SEA Games in Bangkok in 1985. Photo on the right: The Philippine Ladies' Football Team at the 13th SEA Games in Bangkok. Photos from: Philippine Football Historical Archives)

Adri played as a full-back and a striker for the inaugural Philippine Women’s National Football Team, previously and colloquially known as the "Malditas." The team eventually fought their way to their first Asian Women's Championship in 1983 in Thailand.

One of her most significant achievements came in 1985 when the Philippines secured a historic bronze medal at their first outing at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Bangkok.

Despite her commitment to football, the stalwart never entirely abandoned her first love, softball. She continued to compete in commercial leagues, playing in evening games after.

Adri became one of the longest-tenured players in Philippine women’s football history, serving for 17 years.

Third mission

Adri became a part-time faculty member of UST in 1985 while representing the country on the national stage.

She later enrolled in the Master of Science in Physical Education program at UP in 1989. However, her duties with the football squad prevented her from completing her thesis.

Years after her national stint, the veteran pursued her unfinished business in higher education.

She finished her Master of Arts in Education at FEU Roosevelt in 2015 and earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina in 2019.

Adri also coached at international schools and taught in a British school, before becoming interested in sports research.

She is now the head of the internationalization committee and an assistant professor in the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics department, where she notably developed instructional and interactive videos on various sports.

Adri, 63, now dedicates her time as a PATH-fit instructor where she shares her knowledge and passion for sports education with her students, as well as advising undergraduate students for their thesis and mentoring PhD candidates from other universities on their dissertations.

New Generation of Football and Softball

The veteran national athlete thinks that both football and softball in the Philippines nowadays are still underrated and overshadowed by other sports, despite our women’s teams ranking at 18th and 39th in the world in football and softball, respectively.

She notes that the popularity of sports depends on sponsors and media coverage.

“Ang problema sa atin are the lack of sponsors and media mileage [supporting football and softball]. Kung saan ang mas kumikita, doon sila nagi-invest,” she said.

“Una, basketball. Pangalawa, volleyball. Pangatlo, football. So, ‘yung tatlong ‘yon, at least hindi na minsan nahuhuli ‘yung football. Pero, it depends pa rin,” Adri said.

Another reason why basketball is famous in the Philippines is because of how easy it is to put a basketball court anywhere, but when talking about football, much bigger space is needed to create a field.

“Gaya ng sabi ko, it depends on the orientation. We are more on the basketball side. Kaya mas marami [players and fans] kasi we tend to imitate the US. Pero kung sa ibang bansa tayo nakatira, football ‘yan,” she added.

“Kung titignan mo, mas makakascore talaga siguro tayo kung mawawala yung mentality natin na puro basketball, basketball. Kasi hindi naman tayo ganoon katangkaran,” Adri said.

In today’s generation, softball and football are becoming more competitive in the country than before since there are much better and more skilled players who use their talents to study.

Football is also experiencing a resurgence in popularity due to the recent successes of the Filipinas, particularly in their first trip to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

“Ngayon mas madami na ‘yung nag-aaral, might as well use the talent as a player to become somebody someday,” she said.

On and Off the Pitch

In her experience as a student-athlete, Adri shared that, like in any other sport, practicing is essential since greatness does not happen overnight. Pushing yourself is a must if you want to be one of the best.

“Yes, meron kang talent, pero ang talent nawawala pag pinabayaan mo. So you try to hone your skills. Push yourself to the limit. That’s how you become good. And concentrate on the task that is presently on your side,” said Adri.

Balancing being a student-athlete is complicated and hard, but the outcome will still depend on your mental and physical condition, she said.

“Both need lots of discipline. But, discipline with fun para hindi boring. Or else, everything will be boring kung hindi mo sasamahan ng fun. So, hindi po pwedeng puro aral na lang. You will bore yourself. Hindi rin pwedeng puro laro na lang,” Adri added.

Adri also stressed the value of cherishing the moment, which she did, especially when the national football team competed abroad.

“Parang rest and recreation. It's all part of it. Although, umuwi ako minsan, maraming pasa. Kasi, siyempre, minsan pilay-pilay ka. But then, you know, you love all of those stuff,” Adri stated.

The former national athlete always reminds her students to utilize their talents well and not waste their opportunities.

“Always give it your best shot. At this early moment, build your dreams and everything will follow soon later on,” Adri added.