Adamson University will have a tall mountain to climb during the UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
AP Manlapaz, Aaron Fermin, and Aaron Flowers will not suit up for the Soaring Falcons this season due to various reasons.
According to first-year Soaring Falcons head coach Nash Racela, Manlapaz has been nursing a knee injury that forced the coach to save him for Season 85.
Manlapaz, 21 and stands at 6-foot-4, averaged 5.86 points and 2.71 rebounds during his rookie year three years ago.
Meanwhile, 6-foot-5 Fermin is also dealing with a knee injury that was initially feared to be an ACL tear.
In Fermin’s case, he has been bothered by knee issues that made Racela decide to sit him out for this season.
The 22-year-old native of Licab, Nueva Ecija normed 3.14 points and 2.64 rebounds in Season 82.
Flowers is not eligible for Adamson this season due to academics. The 6-foot-4 native of Chicago was not able to adjust to the remote studying system schools implemented during the pandemic.
With this, Lenda Douanga will be Adamson’s lead big while Pong Zaldivar will play extended minutes in his final year. Also expected to step up are Cedrick Manzano and Mario Barasi.
“We know it’s going to be tough but we’ll be looking to stay competitive this season,” said Racela.
Racela is also looking forward to Season 85 as the trio will be back while key recruits like Flever Dignadice and Ray Allen Torres will finally suit up for the Soaring Falcons.
