Adamson University’s title defense in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament is off to a rough start, stumbling to a 1-3 record—their worst in the post-pandemic era.
The Baby Falcons suffered early setbacks against fellow contenders FEU-D Baby Tamaraws, UST Tiger Cubs, and DLSZ Junior Archers, putting their championship aspirations in jeopardy.
With the Baby Falcons facing adversity, Grade 11 guard Mark Esperanza has shouldered greater responsibility in Adamson’s quest to retain the crown.
A key figure in last season’s championship run, which ended the school’s 31-year title drought, Esperanza is now determined to establish a Baby Falcons dynasty in UAAP boys’ basketball.
On Sunday morning, the Gilas Youth standout showcased his hunger and leadership, flirting with a triple-double in a hard-fought 56-52 victory over a winless Ateneo de Manila University squad. The win snapped Adamson’s two-game skid.
“Thankful ako kay Coach Mike na binigyan niya ako ng tiwala maging leader. Hindi ko naman bibiguin si Coach Mike. Hindi agad-agad mangyayari, pero rest assured, unti-unti na ako nagta-transition sa hindi lang pagiging scorer, pero pati na rin sa pagiging leader,” the 5-foot-11 guard told Tiebreaker Times.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Despite his stellar performance—tallying 25 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists against the Blue Eagles—Esperanza remained unsatisfied, particularly with his leadership qualities.
Adamson had to dig deep to fend off Ateneo’s valiant stand, sealing the victory with clutch free throws and crucial defensive stops.
“Hindi pa rin ako satisfied sa game kasi nung huli, hindi ko ma-pinpoint kung paano ako magiging isang leader sa loob ng court, lalo’t ako yung pinagkakatiwalaan ni Coach Mike,” said the Marikina City-raised guard.
At this stage of the season, Baby Falcons head coach Mike Fermin is no longer seeking a collective leadership effort from his seven graduating players. Instead, he is placing the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the Gilas Youth duo—Esperanza and Earl Medina.
While pushing his two star guards to take on leadership roles, Fermin acknowledged that developing those traits takes time.
“Looking back at past seasons, maganda ang starts namin. Pero I told them na hindi niyo kasalanan kasi we’re still a work in progress, we’re still longing for a leader. I’m forcing Mark and Earl to be the leaders,” Fermin said in an interview with Tiebreaker Times.
“Sabi ko nga, someone asked me kung ano yung level of concern ko this season. To be honest, I’m not concerned at all. If this were the team last year, I’d be very concerned. Pero nawala yung core mo, nawala yung leaders mo, and we’re still trying to find kung sino ang mag-step up into that leadership role. Sabi ko, throughout the season, let’s see,” he concluded.
