Adamson University is entering a tournament defined less by expectations and more by resolve and immediate maturity.
The Baby Falcons begin a rebuilding phase as they open their UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament campaign this Sunday, January 11, at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
After finishing fourth in Season 87, Adamson bid farewell to key contributors Earl Medina, Allen Perez, Jireh Tumaneng, Zahir Sajili, CJ Umali, and JR Abayon, all of whom have moved up to the collegiate ranks — still within the Adamson program.
What the Baby Falcons did not anticipate, however, was the departure of Season 87 Mythical Five member Mark Esperanza. The star guard was expected to carry the mantle for Adamson this year, but instead transferred to NCAA school San Sebastian College-Recoletos.
As if that were not enough, head coach Mike Fermin also had to deal with three players sidelined for Season 88 due to academic issues.
Still, rather than shying away from an unexpected rebuilding year, Fermin is embracing the challenge: relying on just four holdovers and 12 rookies to steer Adamson through a highly-competitive and vastly-improved UAAP boys’ basketball field.
“Like our previous seasons, we’re going to take it one game at a time, especially now that eight players from last season are gone (graduated and transferred) and those are rotational players that get heavy minutes,” Fermin told Tiebreaker Times in a phone interview.
“It’s going to be a tough season and at the same time exciting because we also don’t know who will step up, but for sure we’ll be there fighting,” he added.
Determined to keep pace with perennial contenders such as defending champion University of Santo Tomas, National University Nazareth School, and Far Eastern University-Diliman, Fermin has placed added responsibility on his senior core.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
With Javi Artango, Bill Garcia, and Mac Jenodia expected to fill the void left by the Baby Falcons’ departures, the long-time Adamson mentor is counting on the trio to emerge as stabilizers in what is projected to be a grueling Season 88 campaign.
“They are the players we see that have the potential to step up and be the leaders of this team,” Fermin noted.
“Take note, they’re on their last playing year already, so hopefully before they graduate, they can be the stabilizers of the team this season.”
Adamson’s young core will be tested right away as the Baby Falcons clash with the Kevin de Castro-mentored Bullpups this Sunday at 2:00 PM.
Undaunted by an NUNS squad featuring Moussa Diakite, Rob Celiz, and Shaun Lucido, Fermin made it clear that Adamson will embrace the season-opening challenge — and the rest of its Season 88 campaign— with pride and grit.
“They’re a very strong team that I think is one of those teams na title contender this season, especially with their FSA that dominated the 16-under tournament, and I think they are one of the six teams that have an FSA this season. Kami lang yata ni UPIS ang walang FSA,” he said.
“Pero like what I said we will be there fighting maski wala kami FSA, laban lang.”
