The Adamson Soaring Falcons will leave nothing to chance as they get ready to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the Red Warriors in their upcoming UAAP Final Four playoff.
The Adamson Soaring Falcons aren’t about to leave anything reserved as they get ready for a battle with the UE Red Warriors for the last Final Four spot on Wednesday, November 27.
Headed into their third playoff for the Final Four in just as many seasons, the Soaring Falcons have been battle tested to say the least.
And now facing a UE team that is currently on a 5-game losing streak, the San Marcelino-based squad is ready to give everything they have to get a chance to compete in the UAAP Season 87 semis after missing out last year.
With their head-to-head against UE currently at 1-1 this year, Adamson head coach Nash Racela said that it’s all out the window this time around.
“When you get into the playoffs, [when] you get into a knockout game, yung mga nangyari before wala yun eh. Ang lagi ko sinasabi sa kanila expect na hindi mangyayari yung mga nangyari dati,” said Racela.
“It will be a totally different ball game so you don’t really know what to expect but samin gagawin pa rin namin yung [preparation]... Though mas limited because we play Wednesday, it’s good nga na we get this rest tomorrow but we only have two days to prepare for UE so it will be different but we will do our part in preparing the players,” he added.
Talking about what he expects from his players in their biggest game of the season, Racela advised them to play with everything that they’ve got – because when it’s for the Final Four, all bets are off.
“Labas pato na lahat. [I told them] wag na kayo mag-preserve ng kung ano.” said the tactician.
Having seen an up-and-down season from his players all year, Racela is hoping that they get up on the right side of the bed when they face the win-strapped Red Warriors squad. Though he doesn’t know what to expect, he and his fellow coaches will do everything to give them the best chance.
“Lagi yan sa floor mo makikita eh pag pumapasok sila [kung may hunger sila sa panalo]. Sometimes, before a game during practice they give you blank stares so hindi mo talaga alam sometimes when you get to the game, naglalaro na hindi mo pa rin alam, minsan kailangan mo tanungin ano ba maglalaro ka ba today, ano ba ibibigay mo sakin ngayon?” said Racela.
“But that’s why from our end as coaches we just try to wake them up every time minsan makulit but i think that’s something that they need every day, every minute yun ang kailangan nila,” he added.
Adamson and UE battle for the right to face defending champions La Salle in the Final Four on Wednesday, November 27, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.