What was supposed to be a breakout year in UAAP Season 87 became a test of patience for Adamson University’s versatile guard, Jarl Artango.
A nagging injury kept him sidelined, limiting him to just six games in the Baby Falcons’ fourth-place finish and restricting his contributions to modest averages of 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per contest.
But with the graduation of Allen Perez and Earl Medina, and the transfer of Mark Esperanza to San Sebastian, Artango was handed a chance for redemption: to lead a rebuilding Adamson squad in the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament.
“Yung pressure, nandiyan naman ‘yan lagi. Every game, nandiyan lang. Talagang iniisip ko lang na gawin ko dapat yung tama. Gawin ko yung mga kailangan ko,” the 5-foot-11 guard shared.
“Guide ko yung mga teammates ko sa loob ng court. Kausapin ko sila. Yun lang ang kailangan ko gawin para makabawi for lost time.”
Artango wasted no time.
Against league-leader Ateneo de Manila University, he delivered a masterclass in reclaiming lost time.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Cagayan de Oro City-native erupted for 24 points, adding five rebounds, four assists, and three steals to power the Baby Falcons to a gritty 77-73 victory over the previously-unbeaten Blue Eagles.
With Artango leading the charge, Adamson did what no other contender — defending champion University of Santo Tomas, National University Nazareth School, Far Eastern University-Diliman, and University of the East — had managed this season: hand Ateneo its first loss.
The win also served as a strong response to a “humiliating” 45-71 wire-to-wire defeat against the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers, which head coach Mike Fermin said exposed their lack of effort and focus.
“Honestly talaga, hindi lang ako yung nagulat na ganito yung linaro namin ngayon. Nagtrabaho lang kami sa ensayo talaga. Pinakita lang namin sa mga coaches namin yung effort namin na gusto rin namin manalo kasi ayaw din namin na may stepladder ngayong season,” Artango said.
“After game ng La Salle, nagusap kami. Kinabukasan, pahinga kami. Nung ensayo namin, nagusap lang kami ulit na walang magre-relax sa practice kasi galing kami sa talo. Nasa isip lang namin lahat kung paano kami babawi at maglaro nang maayos. Kailangan namin gawin kung ano dapat para makuha yung panalo,” he added.
From averaging just under three points per game in a season derailed by injury, Artango has now emerged as Adamson’s go-to player. He’s putting up a team-high 13.3 points on top of 2.83 rebounds, 2.67 steals, and 2.67 assists per game through the first six contests of Season 88.
Fueled by his all-around performance, the Baby Falcons returned emphatically to the win column and now share fourth place with De La Salle Zobel at 3-3 heading into the first round’s final game day.
For Fermin, Artango’s impact goes far beyond the numbers. It’s in the poise, maturity, and leadership he brings to a young team competing in one of the most competitive UAAP boys’ basketball seasons in years.
“Ang maganda kay Jarl, alam na niya yan. Need lang niya i-control sarili niya, and then lift niya yung spirits ng teammates niya. Papunta na siya doon, parating na. I am happy na nagagampanan niya yung dapat niya gampanan na role sa team,” Fermin said.
“At least, yung response ng bata, maganda ngayon. Little by little, you can see na even though we are young, nakikita mo yung maturity nandiyan na diyan.”
