In order to defeat defending champion University of the Philippines — a team they had not beaten since UAAP Season 84 on April 21, 2022 — Adamson University head coach Nash Racela took a page out of the Fighting Maroons’ own playbook.
On Wednesday night, UP — a squad whose identity is “tapang” and “talino” — found themselves outplayed by a hungrier Soaring Falcons team.
Where UP’s grit and smarts usually shine brightest, Adamson met them head-on with fiercer intensity, constant substitutions, and sharper execution. And Adamson turned the reigning titlist’s strengths against them in a duel that felt as much about pride as the scoreboard.
In the end, the Soaring Falcons’ bravery and wits — and a game-winning triple by UP Integrated School product Ray Allen Torres — propelled Adamson to a narrow 62-59 victory, sending the Fighting Maroons to their worst start since Season 79, when they opened 0-3.
UP had lost its first game of the tournament, 87-67, against the UST Growling Tigers.
“I saw their effort. I think this game does not only entail yung heart nila, kailangan din ng utak.
“I think today, they were very focused. Yung mga adjustment na ginagawa namin on the fly, they were able to execute. I guess that’s part of maturity, it truly shows maturity,” Racela said, beaming with pride.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Facing a daunting task against a UP squad stacked with talent such as the ‘Maroon 5’, Gani Stevens, Noy Remogat, and Jacob Bayla, Adamson relied on collective effort to hold the Fighting Maroons under 60 points on 17-of-51 shooting (33%).
For Racela, the victory came not from individual brilliance but from the shared resolve of the Soaring Falcons to lean on each other, grind out defensive possessions, and believe that discipline could outweigh star power.
In a league where marquee names often steal the spotlight, Adamson’s triumph was a reminder that a good system can still bend the odds.
“Yun lang ang tsansa namin ‘eh. We all know our talent compared to most of them ay mas mababa. Hindi ko naman binababa yung mga players ko, but I guess that’s just the reality and we have to accept that,” the one-time UAAP champion coach shared.
“The only way for us to compete in this league is to play defense, play as a team, rely on each other, and not depend too much on our individual skills. The team should embrace that — and I think they’re starting to — kaya sana every game ganito ipakita namin.”
With their collective effort, Racela called himself the ‘happiest coach’ in the UAAP while the Soaring Falcons now prepare for a clash against the still-unbeaten Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Hindi ako pwede umangal — I should be the happiest coach, at least hanggang 12 midnight lang.”
