The Adamson Soaring Falcons continue to exceed expectations by booking a Final Four appearance in a longer, but rather familiar road.
It was far from the easiest path, but the Adamson Soaring Falcons are officially headed to the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final Four after they dispatched the freefalling UE Red Warriors on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Falcons once again relied on their signature defense to secure the elusive Final Four ticket, accompanied by an all-around offense led by Cedrick Manzano’s 17-point, 13-rebound double-double, and Monty Montebon’s 13 points and seven assists.
“We’re grateful that two out of the three knockout games, we were able to advance. Sabi ko nga the last time [against Ateneo], if we need to go through knockout games every year, we’ll go through that just to make it to the Final Four,” Adamson head coach Nash Racela said after the 68-55 win.
“But I think the beauty about it is that we really gave ourselves a chance. The team, the players more specifically, they did their part in getting there. But we still have a job to do next [Saturday] so yeah, pahinga kagad. So hopefully we recover quickly.”
Season 87 has been a rollercoaster ride for Adamson, who closely trailed behind UST and UE throughout eliminations. Making matters challenging, a three-game skid nearly jeopardized their playoff hopes in Round 2, with a 3-7 record sending them on the brink of an early elimination.
Though the Falcons were quick to bounce back, first by humbling the Red Warriors in their Round 2 meeting, before ending the NU Bulldogs’ own Final Four aspirations. While there was that blowout loss to the UST Growling Tigers, it was quickly followed by an impressive effort against the Ateneo Blue Eagles that forced Wednesday’s knockout game.
“I think it’s because of the design of our program, which I think needs to change. What do I mean? This is something that I realized lately when I look at my teams. Even the first three seasons. We always play better the second round. I think that’s because we always have new guys coming in, and I don’t think we prepare them well during preseason,” Racela reflected.
“Because we don’t have a program like the others where they go abroad, play strong teams, compete in major tournaments. Kami nandito lang, nagttune up. Laro sa maliliit na liga, laro sa probinsya.”
Apart from peaking late into eliminations, Racela believes that his Falcons are learning how to play for each other. A good example of this, he said, is none other than his scoring-oriented guard Montebon.
“The last two games, etong si Monty parang medyo mayabang because the last two games, he had seven [assists against UE and Ateneo], something that is not Monty-like. Because that’s what he was saying earlier about being selfish, but now he’s being unselfish which I think the other players appreciate.”
“You look at our assists number the last two games, we had 20. Today, we have 23, which means they’re starting to play as one unit, which that’s what it should be.”
Montebon and Manzano, meanwhile, always believed in the Falcons’ potential to compete. For them, it was a matter of establishing that chemistry as Season 87 went on.
“I think there were a couple games during preseason where I was like ‘Okay, this team could go far into [Season 87]’. I think to start the UAAP season, we all had to put it together…First round it took a little bit of time, but then the second round, we started getting it a little bit together. So I’ll credit just the chemistry we’ve been growing and then the camaraderie that’s been growing as well,” said Montebon, as Manzano shared similar thoughts.
With the Final Four ticket secured, Adamson will now face defending champs La Salle on Saturday, November 30 at the Araneta Coliseum — though it won’t be easy, given that Adamson lost to La Salle by an average of 27.5 points in their Season 87 elimination round meetings.
However, the Falcons remain defiant, knowing that it’s back to square one come the Final Four.
“Well, the good thing about it is we don’t have to bring it to the Final Four. We just leave it at that. So, that’s the same mentality that we said the next game will be different. So, hopefully, we give them a challenge and hopefully, we beat them. The important thing is we give ourselves a chance,” said Racela.
Manzano adds, “Siguro nakatulong samin ‘yung knockout game [against UE]. Kalaban namin ‘yung La Salle, so preparation na din namin ‘yun sa next naming game. Gagawin lang namin ‘yung sistema ni coach. Kung ano man ‘yung magresulta, at least we did our best.”
Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.