MANILA, Philippines – As the final buzzer rang through the Smart Araneta Coliseum, a towel flew high and hands shot up the air.
The buzzer and jubilation finalized a hard-earned 74-71 victory over the UE Red Warriors. And the win signified Adamson had finally earned some respect in the UAAP.
“Going into this game I told the boys I think we haven’t gained the respect of the other teams,” head coach Mike Fermin said following the victory on Saturday, November 7 in the men’s basketball tournament of UAAP Season 78. “I told the guys, to gain their respect, we need to win this game.”
And they did. The last-place Adamson showed they were still alive and kicking, winning only their third game of the season in 13 outings with one more left to play.
The rebuilding Falcons hung on late despite squandering a 66-44 third quarter lead they built with a 16-0 burst coming off halftime and staved off the Warriors, which climbed back to within a single possession, 72-71, with under 30 seconds to play.
Fermin admitted he could feel the apprehension from his players inside the last minute, but he gave credit to their determination to finish the job.
“Going into the fourth quarter our target was to have a cushion,” said Fermin, who encouraged his team to make stops as UE mounted a 20-3 rally bridging the third and fourth periods. “I just told them to be composed, UE is not a so-so team.”
The Falcons were successful in making those stops as the Warriors’ Edgar Charcos missed a potential game-winner and struggling rookie guard Bonbon Batiller fouled out with 15.7 seconds left.
With the Adamson bench locked in arms, Joseph Nalos buried the critical free throws off of Batiller’s foul for the final tally and the Falcons officially tripled their win total from last season.
The victories vary for Adamson this year as they also defeated the UP Fighting Maroons and the DLSU Green Archers.
They aim to finish strong and gain more respect in their final assignment against Final Four-contending UST Growling Tigers on Wednesday, November 11.
Fermin does not want a repeat of their first round encounter where UST raced to a 22-5 early lead and never looked back.
“We should stick with them,” he stressed in Filipino.
Respect is never given, it is always earned – and Fermin, whose return as head coach next season is still up in the air, will not stop until his team earns indisputable respect.
"From a coach’s standpoint, you’re never satisfied (with 3 wins),” he said. "You know your team can do better. But the team improved greatly.” – Rappler.com