IS Adamson the 'kontrapelo' of University of Santo Tomas? That seems to be the case in for the better part of the last few seasons.
Even Nic Cabanero can’t explain why. But since he moved to Espana, he has only won thrice in the nine times that the Growling Tigers played the Soaring Falcons in the UAAP men's basketball tournament.
READ Adamson claims UST scalp for fine finish to first round
“Hindi ko rin alam eh,” he said, looking back at the past tussles between the two schools. “Pag kalaban namin sila, may something talaga sa kanila, Parang lagi silang ganado maglaro pag kami 'yung kalaban nila.”
Saturday was no different as UST absorbed a 69-59 loss at the hands of Adamson in a bitter finish to the first round of the eliminations.
The Growling Tigers, averaging a league-best 91.67 points before the game, were held to their season-low output by the Soaring Falcons which boasts the league’s best defense.
It’s a rude reality check for UST and Cabanero would be the first to give credit where credit is due.
“Yung defense talaga nila is the best sa league and nakita naman natin yun,” he said of Adamson, which ranks first in points allowed with 62.43 points while holding teams to a season-best 36-percent from the field.
Cabanero, however, will be better prepared when the two teams cross paths again in the second round.
“We’ll absorb this loss and move forward. I think the biggest learning for us is every game counts, na di namin dapat i-take for granted every game,” he said. “We’ll be better the next time out kasi we have our eyes on our goals.”
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