Falcons embrace new era, look to younger players for UAAP 87
Date Posted: September 9, 2024 at 04:47 PM
Despite the departure of former King Falcon Jerom Lastimosa, Adamson University's men's basketball head coach Nash Racela remains optimistic about the Falcons' chances in the upcoming UAAP Season 87 Basketball Tournament.
Speaking at the tournament's media conference on September 4, the soft-spoken mentor emphasized the team's readiness to forge a new identity without the former AdU star.
"We want to move on from Jerom [Lastimosa]," Racela shared, also acknowledging the difficulty of losing key veterans, including Jed Colonia, Joem Sabandal, Vince Magbuhos, and Didat Hanapi.
While recognizing the challenge, Racela expressed confidence in the younger players to step up.
"It’s not easy to replace those guys. Syempre nawalan kami ng mga veterans. But in college basketball, players come and go, so we’re ready for it," he added. “We just hope the younger guys will rise to the challenge.”
Joshua Yerro will take the helm as the team’s skipper. He will take over for Colonia, who has taken a coaching career with his high school Alma mater in Cebu after exhausting his playing years for the Falcons.
Veterans Cedrick Manzano, Mathew Montebon, and John Calisay, along with foreign student-athlete OJ Ojarikre, are also expected to lead the San Marcelino-based squad this season.
Newcomers AJ Fransman, Royce Mantua, and Austine Ronzone are also expected to impact the team.
In addition to the men's team, Ella Regudo, the standout from the UAAP 86 Women’s Volleyball tournament, will return for the Falcons this season.
