The Adamson University Baby Falcons aim for their first UAAP high school boys’ basketball championship in 31 years as they seek to sweep the National University Nazareth School (NUNS) at the FilOil EcoOil Center on Wednesday, February 7.
Scoring a 77-71 triumph in the Season 86 best-of-three Finals opener last Sunday, Adamson looks to dispatch the NUNS in Game Two at 4 p.m., following the awarding ceremony for the individual awards set at 3 p.m.
History is on the Baby Falcons side who are eyeing their first title since 1993 under then head coach and now player agent Charlie Dy.
Interestingly, six of the eight previous Game One winners in the Finals, and eight of the last 10 went on to become champions of the tournament.
Coach Mike Fermin noted the mistakes the Adamson committed in Game One which should not be replicated if the Baby Falcons are to sweep the Bullpups.
“We’re not following our system in the third quarter. We wanted to play one on one, which is not us. It’s not Adamson’s brand of basketball,” Fermin said.
Adamson turned things around in the final period and orchestrated a 17-2 run for a 66-61 advantage with 5:41 remaining in the game and stayed in control the rest of the way.
Vince Reyes tallied 17 points and six rebounds to lead the Baby Falcons. He is expected to spearhead Adamson’s charge anew.
Reyes scored nine of his total points in the final frame, as the Baby Falcons slammed the Bullpups’ comeback attempt.
Collin Akowe led the Bullpups with 26 points, while Mac-Mac Alfanta added 11 points.
Only Akowe and Alfanta scored double-digits for the NUNS in Game One. The rest of the team needs to contribute if NU is to extend the series.