Despite Adamson University missing the last bus to the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Final Four, Nash Racela is mighty proud of how his team competed until the end.
Ever since the preseason press conference, the Soaring Falcons were not mentioned among the teams to beat for this season of college hoops.
But ever the fighter, Adamson fought its way to a 7-7 record, beating National University and the University of the East in its final two games of the elimination round to stay alive and force a playoff for the last Final Four ticket.
However, things did not work out their way in the knockout, as Ateneo silenced Adamson, 70-48, on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“I always say I’m proud of my team. I’ve been consistent in saying, even before the start of the season, nobody gave us a chance,” said Racela.
“Who would’ve imagined that after two to three months of playing, today we were playing for a slot in the Final Four? As a coach, you should be happy and proud of how your players competed.”
Making it more impressive was that the Soaring Falcons endured this season without top gun Jerom Lastimosa, except for a few minutes against UP in the second round and a little time against the Blue Eagles in this game.
Adamson also did not have the services of Joem Sabandal in the past three games before the Ateneo battle due to a hamstring injury.
“Very, very proud of our team. So many ups and downs, really an emotional rollercoaster for the team, even up to the last day,” said the fiery tactician.
Racela then revealed that his starting power forward, Cedrick Manzano, just lost his dad on Tuesday but still showed up for this game as decided by his entire family.
His family watched the game live as a show of support for Manzano and the Soaring Falcons.
“The team is on an emotional low. Last time we talked about Cedrick Manzano choosing to play despite his dad being in the hospital. Well, he lost his dad, so that’s something that we learned about yesterday. That’s why sabi ko nga, we’re not really looking at the results, but it’s really how the boys played,” said Racela.
“It was really, they wanted to honor the dad of Cedrick. I just hope even if the score is not really favorable – ang laki pa nga nung lamang – I just hope that we made his dad happy and the whole family,” he added.
“Yung family nga niya actually is here, the whole family watched the game today so they were really one in making the decision na maglaro si Cedrick.”
Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin also praised Adamson, saying that the final tally does not tell the real story of the match.
“I guess probably on the scoreboard, it didn’t look like a tough game, but it was a very tough game. It always is with Adamson, and I think that’s reflective probably on the low score.”
