IT’S been a tale of ups and downs for Adamson in UAAP Season 87 so far, and the ups have caught many by surprise for a few reasons.
For a team that doesn’t necessarily boast of having star players, more so in the midst of arms race-like recruitment in college basketball today, the Soaring Falcons have been making the most of the cards they’ve been dealt.
READ: Adamson hero Yerro on game-winner: 'Tiwala lang, papasok 'to'
With breakout performances coming in thick and fast from both veterans in Ced Manzano, Mathew Montebon, and Wawa Yerro to a fresh face such as AJ Fransman, Adamson head coach Nash Racela is convinced that the magic has just begun.
“I guess it says a lot about the program that we’re building. Hindi madali. I think everybody knows it’s not easy to recruit players now, considering the landscape of college basketball,” said Racela.
“Kami naman, we just try our best and make do with what we have. Maybe not the most talented high-profile players or blue-chip players, but these kids are still players. Medyo nahuhuli lang ng development nang konti kaya a little bit less talent. But I think in time, as long as you’re being patient with them, nade-develop din.”
New ‘heights’ for Racela, Adamson
If a star-less Adamson side, so to speak, can pull off commanding wins and clutch heroics at any given day, sky’s the limit for what remains in the Soaring Falcons’ horizon.
In fact, Racela’s already thrilled for what the future has in store as they prepare to scale new heights come Season 88 with 6-foot-8 former UAAP juniors star Kobe Demisana, who made the move from UP Integrated School to Ateneo before landing in Adamson.
The Soaring Falcons' mentor hopes Demisana’s signing and their promising beginning to the season can entice more rising stars to link up with a team which he vows can ‘give opportunities to grow and play’ more than anywhere else.
“Hopefully, people also see that, especially ‘yung mga players na would want to play for a UAAP team. In our program, we give opportunities to grow and play which I don’t think other schools can always give them,” Racela said.
“We’ll do our best on our end as coaches to help the players that we have.”
And if Adamson is already building a reputation of being a lethal surprise package in the UAAP, for Racela, long may it continue.
As he put it, “That’s something that we said. We expect to have some surprises. Nakakailan na rin. I think UST was a surprise, today’s game (versus NU) was another surprise."
“Sige lang, dating lang nang dating. Welcome sa’min lahat ng surprises.”
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