Fil-Am Nation broke free late to claim the NBTC Division 1 championship at the expense of UAAP champion Adamson on Sunday, March 24 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Adamson U star Tebol Garcia didn’t look like someone who ceded the NBTC Division 1 crown to Fil-Am Nation Select on Sunday, March 24.
Nothing could dampen his spirit, and that rubbed off on his teammates.
Even after the 79-71 Finals loss at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the Baby Falcons were all smiles, knowing there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
“As a leader sabi ko po maganda season natin ngayon, wala tayo dapat ikalungkot,” Garcia, who finished with 20 big points, told One Sports after the match.
After all, the UAAP juniors basketball champions achieved what they set out to do.
They came in with chips on their shoulders. And after putting on a good fight, there’s no doubt in Garcia’s mind that the team did prove something against the favored US-based squad.
Adamson kept in step with its counterpart for the most part, before Fil-Am Nation pulled away in the final five minutes behind eventual Most Outstanding Player Terrence Hill.
“Pag dating sa Finals talagang pinaghandaan namin, kasi alam natin pag Fil-Am, ine-expect nila mga Pinoy, nandito lang kami sa baba nila,” said Garcia, who joined Hill, Andy Gemao, Jacob Bayla, and Vince Reyes in the Mythical Team.
“Binigyan lang namin sila ng magandang laban. Pag nanalo bonus. Pero thankful pa rin kami na nakarating kami dito sa Finals.”
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As always, there’s gain in loss.
For Garcia, who is set to transition to college, it’s putting premium on leadership.
“Sobrang dami ko pong kailangan i-improve lalo sa sarili ko on and off the court. Kailangan i-develop ko leadership, lalo yung shooting ko,” he said.
“Sobrang dami pa pong kulang. After nito pagtatrabahuhan ko po talaga.” The big question now, though, is where to next, Tebol?