ONE final hurrah awaits Adamson in its once-improbable chase for a Final Four spot in UAAP Season 87.
By crushing National University's playoff hopes with a 53-41 win, the Soaring Falcons' 5-7 card brings them half a game behind fourth-seeded University of Santo Tomas with two matches left in the elimination round.
READ: Adamson wakes NU up from Final Four-dreaming
A four-way photo finish for the last two semifinals spots could unfold in the final few weeks of prelims play.
Adamson's key to survival for first-year player AJ Fransman? Patience.
One of the Soaring Falcons' top scorers this season bared what he deemed to be head coach Nash Racela’s most important piece of advice in the crucial homestretch for the San Marcelino side.
“Just be patient lang talaga sa ginagawa namin at sa pag-run ng offense. Sa defense naman, si coach Gilbert [Lao] naman yung nagpapaalala lagi sa’min,” Fransman told SPIN.ph.
“Sinasabi na lang talaga ng mga coaches na do our part and control kung anong kailangan naming i-control. ‘Yun ‘yung parang advice na binigay niya sa’min at parang tumatak talaga sa isip namin.”
No pressure, nothing for granted
From the outside looking in, the pressure’s on in a tight race to join reigning finalists La Salle and the University of the Philippines in the playoffs.
There’s not much of that, however, in the Adamson camp.
Whatever the outcome may be when Adamson squares off with UST and Ateneo to end elims, best believe the fight won’t ever be lost for the late-blooming Soaring Falcons.
“Siguro may pressure, but ine-enjoy lang namin talaga ‘yung games. Nire-remind sa’min ng mga coaches na mag-stick lang kami sa system. ‘Yun ‘yung important talaga," Fransman said.
“Kailangan naming tutukan ‘yung preparation namin for the remaining games.”
And in what has been a breakout year for the Adamson rookie, is he pleased with what he’s brought to the table so far?
“Satisfied naman siguro.”
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