Baby Falcons rewrites history; ends Adamson’s 31-year title drought in boys’ basketball
Date Posted: February 13, 2024 at 04:07 PM
The Baby Falcons hacked a wire-to-wire 90-73 victory over NU-Nazareth School to end a 31-year championship wait in the UAAP Season 86 Boys Basketball tournament, February 11, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Adamson ensured that there would be no repeat of what happened in their Game 2 collapse where NUNS clawed back from a 15-point deficit to send the second half to push the three-game series into a decider.
With the win, the San Marcelino crew brought home their first title since 1993 when then-coach Charlie Dy’s team achieved a six-peat, which remains as the longest title run in the UAAP high school division.
"I would like to thank God, as well as the Adamson community for this championship. Ang sarap ng pagkakapanalo nito," said head coach Mike Fermin while also expressing thanks to their managers Engr. Ibrahim “Bong” Nuño, Engr. Gilbert Cruz and Mr.Concon Navarra.
Fermin has long been with the Adamson juniors and seniors’ basketball program and has seen numerous triumphs and rebuilds for the team, and with his team’s golden run, he cements his legacy in Adamson not just a rebuilder but a champion coach.
Holding a slender 49-45 lead midway in the third period, the Baby Falcons unleashed a scoring barrage, outpointing their foes from Jhocson St., 37-14 with just a little more than three minutes left in the final frame.
Adamson’s pesky defense proved to be the telling point in the game as the Baby Falcons forced the Bullpups into committing 21 turnovers and converting 27 points out of them. NUNS only had nine turnover points. Adamson also posted a 16-4 disparity in fastbreak points.
Mark Esperanza was awarded Finals MVP honors after leading the Adamson offense with his 13 points and four assists. He logged in finals series averages of 9.3 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and two steals per game.
Allen Perez also showed flashes of brilliance defending NUNS foreign student athlete and league MVP Colins Akowe and scoring 11 points.
Baby Falcons’ graduating players also made their presence in the win as Season 86 Mythical Five member Justine Garcia, along with JC Bonzalida, top-scored for the team with 15 points apiece, with the latter also grabbing 10 rebounds for a double-double performance.
Vince Reyes had 10 points and 7 rebounds, while Gene Carillo posted nine markers to conclude their high school basketball careers.
Quarterscores: 24-15, 43-32, 62-53, 90-73.
AdU (90) – Bonzalida 15, Garcia 15, Esperanza 13, Perez 11, Reyes 10, Carillo 9, Medina 8, Umali 5, Sajili 4, De Jesus 0, Baluyut 0, Artango 0, Palacpac 0.
NUNS (73) – Akowe 18, Alfanta 16, Tagotongan 12, Solomon 8, Yusi 7, Palanca 6, Barraca 3, Cartel 2, Reroma 1, Pillado 0, Usop 0, Nepacena 0, Napa 0, Herrera 0, Figueroa 0, Alejo 0.
