ADAMSON built its first-round identity on firing from beyond the arc, drilling a league-high 60 three-pointers.
But when the Soaring Falcons needed their long-range weapon against Far Eastern University, the shots simply would not fall.
The San Marcelino squad averaged 29 3-point attempts each game in the first round on nearly nine makes per game, but after two games in the second round they just shot a combined 11-of-66.
The Falcons got obliterated by the NU Bulldogs before the Tamaraws led as high as 19 points in their 73-66 loss.
READ: No meltdown for FEU this time as it repels late Adamson push
For head coach Nash Racela, the problem was not simply about finding their shooting touch. It was also about finding enough bodies to sustain their fight.
“Sa ikot na ng tao, sa lalim. So na-expose yung depth or lack of depth namin,” Racela told Spin.ph.
“While siyempre habang nagro-rotate ka, sila kaya nilang maintain yung laro nila. So sa amin, dun kami nagkakaroon ng butas.”
PLUGGING THE HOLES
Adamson has been playing without AJ Franzman, Joshua Barcelona, and Hunter Cruz-Dumont, three players who occupy the same position and whose absences have forced the coaching staff to stretch its available personnel.
“Three people down. So we’re just plugging the holes, trying to make do with what we have” Racela said, explaining how Manu Anabo, Earl Medina, and Kenji Canete have had to take on different responsibilities to fill the gaps.
The situation became even more concerning when foreign student-athlete Precious Jonah was hurt midway in third of FEU’s game.
“Lalong numipis yung frontline. Ang importante is may laban, may chance pa naman,” the mentor added.
With its frontline depleted, Adamson has had to lean on its perimeter game rather than rely on the individual shot creation other teams can find inside.
“Wala naman kaming ibang pupuntahan katulad ng ibang teams na puwede mong bigyang ng bola tapos laruin nila. Bigyan mo si [PJ] Palacielo, laruin ni [Reinhard] Jumamoy, Bigay mo kay [Collins] Akowe, o kaya i-one-on-one mo kay [Kieffer] Alas,” Racela stressed.
“We don’t really have that luxury.”
Still, the tactician refused to let the consecutive defeats dictate the Falcons’ outlook, especially with the Final Four race remaining tight.
“One win will really change it,” he said.
The standings may shift with every result, but Adamson must first find a way to make its own game more consistent, regardless of who is available and whether the shots are falling.
“Tuloy lang, tuloy lang laban. Do your part. Control what you can control,” Racela said.
For a team that has already shown it can pile up points from long range, the next step is finding enough depth and consistency to keep its season from going cold along with its shooting.
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