CEDRICK Manzano held his head up high, proud of the accomplishment that Adamson made this UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Though the campaign didn’t end up in a crown for San Marcelino, just reaching the level that the Soaring Falcons did – making it to the Final Four despite the gloomy preseason projections – is already an achievement in itself.
“Sobrang saya pa rin kasi nakapasa kami dito,” said the hardworking big man from Romblon. “Yung mga bashers, parang mino-motivate nila kami. Akala nila no. 8 kami, na hindi kami makakapasok dito.”
“Pero napatunayan namin na hindi kami hanggang doon lang, na pang-Final Four kami.”
Manzano deserves great credit for keeping the ship afloat, averaging 9.19 points, 7.69 rebounds, 1,88 assists, and 1.0 block across this campaign.
But what makes this Soaring Falcons team special is how they’ve bought into the system of coach Nash Racela that everyone is able to contribute to their causes and mainly focus on what would keep them competitive against a self-admitted more talented foes: defense.
And it shows, with Adamson only allowing teams to a league-best 61.5 points on 34.9-percent field goal shooting (second-best).
Falcons out so soar higher next season
Unquestionably this season’s overachievers, Manzano said that this run just fuels the Soaring Falcons to keep on wanting more – especially for him as he plays his last year.
“Expect natin na next season mas gigil pa kami, na hindi lang Final Four yung gusto naming maabot,” he said.
“Gusto din namin umabot sa Finals. Siguro next season, goal na muna yung Final Four and then yung Finals.”
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