Falcons, Bulldogs eye No. 2

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson and fellow opening weekend winner National U gun for their second straight victories as they face separate winless foes today at the resumption of play in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament at the MOA Arena.  

The Falcons, who rocked the tourney with a massive 74-70 reversal over fancied holder Ateneo last Sept. 9, seek a routine win against rebuilding University of the East (0-1) at 2 p.m. while the Bulldogs, who bared their teeth with a 75-70 disposal of Santo Tomas on opening day, aim for No. 2 versus new-look La Salle (0-1) at 4 p.m.

AdU coach Franz Pumaren cautioned his wards against getting carried away by the epic result against Ateneo, stressing the job is far from over.

“We still have to prove ourselves. Winning one game in the opening, winning one game over Ateneo, doesn’t make us a championship team. We’re still a team struggling to improve our position from last year; we still have a lot of work to do,” said Pumaren.

He wouldn’t want the Falcons’ head to be on the receiving end of the upset axe this time versus a UE side determined to atone itself from an embarrassing 58-87 loss from University of the Philippines.

“The downside of us beating Ateneo is I think we’ll be a marked team right now. Teams will be looking forward to playing us, preparing really hard to beat us,” said Pumaren.

“Off-the-bat I said it’s going to be a struggle, it’s not going to be easy and I think it’s a challenge for me and I welcome it,” said UE’s Joe Silva, tapped to oversee the Warriors’ turnaround this season.

Meanwhile, coach Jamike Jarin of co-leader NU said his young charges have their work cut out for them as well, as evidenced by the immaturity that unraveled when they squandered an 18-point lead against UST.

“We played good in the third quarter and all of a sudden, we didn’t play self-less in the fourth. This shows we’re really a young team and these young men need to mature fast in order for us to compete this season,” he said.

That’s virtually a similar concern for first-year DLSU coach Louie Gonzalez, whose rookie-laden crew bowed to seasoned Far Eastern, 61-68.

“Iyung puso naman is nandoon talaga. Again, as long as nandoon yung heart, yung effort, we will compete,” said Gonzalez who took over after Aldin Ayo jumped over to UST. 

 Meanwhile, UP has protested what it felt was “unfair officiating” in its 79-87 loss to Ateneo last week and sought reconsideration on the suspension of coach Bo Perasol following his ejection in that game.

“We write to officially protest and implore action against what transpired during the UP vs Ateneo game last Sept. 12,” UP team manager Agaton Uvero said in a letter to UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag. 

UP didn’t sign the scoresheet of the said game and asked for a review a few days later.  

“The UAAP must do something about this not because we lost. Losing is part of the game. But unfairness and bad officiating are certainly not. Nobody wins when bad calls or non-calls by game officials are not rectified and are allowed to continue,” he added.

The Maroons noted the disparity in free throws awarded, 31 for Ateneo against only seven. They cited what they believed was a “foul” by Will Navarro on a dunking Bright Akhuetie that was let go. The no-call drew the ire of Perasol and led to his exit and subsequent one-game ban.