The Adamson University Soaring Falcons defeated the winless University of the East (UE) in the second round of the tournament, 65-53, for a chance at a ticket to the post-season, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. AdU racked a 6-8 fine-tuned record from a 4-10 record last Season 82.
In the first frame, it was a close-out score, and UE Red Warriors was up by a point, 15-16. As the game continued to rally, The Falcons owned the half-game with a finish of Didat Hanapi’s three-pointer with a foul but missed the chance of a four-point play, 30-22.
Jerom Lastimosa, to start the third quarter, got his first basket of the game. The Soaring Falcons struck a 15-6 run. Meanwhile, Vince Magbuhos, at the 0:01.6 mark, got a three-point shot and beat the buzzer, 47-42. The game ended in favor of the Racela-based squad.
Joem Sabandal, the top-scored player, tallied 15 points and 5 rebounds. Magbuhos added 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals. Lastimosa chipped 7 points, as well as Tricky Peromingan, in the game. The latter ended his career, striking 5 points and 3 rebounds with a winning note.
On the same game day, they needed the Far Eastern University and National University to drop their matches, forcing a three-way tie for fourth at 6-8.
“From our end, we don’t really pray naman na for others to lose. That’s what we always talk about— just taking care of business. We did our part. If it happens, it happens. Then we will be ready,” Coach Racela said in an interview with the Tiebreaker Times.
FEU Tamaraws won later that day, signaling the end of the Soaring Falcons.
Mark Joseph Tan, a basketball fan and professor from Adamson University, believes Soaring Falcons has a high chance next season.
“Perhaps we had learned about our mistakes in the first round, the oversight of leads and turnovers,” he said. “The quality we have right doesn’t make me feel nervous, maybe because of the moves and basketball IQ that players keep showing,” he expressed in Tagalog over the interview.
He also pointed out that three-point field goals were the definitive budge in the game and the Gilas-like moves of the point guard Lastimosa. He was also once a professor of senior player Keith Zaldivar, and is hoping the big guy can continue his dream to the bigger stage because of his huge improvement.
“If we can have a better import or a dominant big man next year, then count Adamson in the final four already because it will give Lastimosa its perfect fit. At the same time, it allows much space to our shooters in the 3-point line,” he said.
The UAAP fans were also looking forward to improving their shooting to attain score-balanced players, along with getting new center players with ample time with their new coach— Nash Racela, who joined the Falcons’ bench last December 2021 and got appreciation on how the team developed and progressed at the least pace for preparation.
Komentarze