The Adamson duo of Mark Esperanza and Earl Medina have been logging the highest minutes so far in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament.
Esperanza, an 18-year-old, 5-foot-11 floor general, led the league in playing time after the first round, averaging 34 minutes and 39 seconds per game.
Meanwhile, Medina, a 6-foot-2 winger who is set to turn 19 in a week, ranked second with an average of 33 minutes and 39 seconds per contest.
As the second round began, the two continued to carry a heavy workload against Ateneo. Medina played 37 minutes and 46 seconds.
Meanwhile, Esperanza logged 34 minutes and 16 seconds in Adamson’s narrow 58-57 victory on Thursday, which propelled them into a tie for fourth place with UE.
Though both players are young and have the stamina to handle extended minutes, they acknowledge the risks of such a heavy workload.
More importantly, they recognize that Adamson has the depth to compete with the league’s best — it’s just a matter of their teammates stepping up as they fight for a Final Four berth.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Dapat talaga, para sa akin, lahat mag-step up, lalo ngayong second round. Kahit sino. Collective effort talaga dapat kasi kahit two rebounds, malaking bagay na sa amin yun eh,” said Medina, who finished with 12 points and nine rebounds in Adamson’s 58-57 escape of Ateneo on Thursday that put them up to a share for fourth with UE.
Esperanza echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of contributions from the entire roster.
“Kaming mga guard, ang lalim ng minutes namin. Kailangan lahat, pagkapasok, contribute positively,” chimed Esperanza, who got 13 points, seven assists, and three steals.
So far, the likes of CJ Umali, Gabe De Jesus, and Zahir Sajili have had their moments for Adamson.
However, Adamson is counting on their 6-foot-7 twin towers, Allen Perez and Jireh Tumaneng, to make a significant impact in the second round.
Longtime Baby Falcons head coach Mike Fermin isn’t expecting Perez and Tumaneng to replicate the performances of Vince Reyes and JC Bonzalida from last season’s championship run.
What he does expect is for them to put in the work.
“Collective effort talaga especially on the defensive side. Yung guards namin nandiyan pero yung bigs nawawala. We are pushing our bigs to play above their level,” said Fermin.
“Kung makita mo yung apat na nasa taas magagaling yung bigs. Kami yun last year eh. Pero sabi ko nga, hindi na tayo yun at kailangan natin trabahuin lahat.”
