Adamson eliminates depleted San Sebastian

PERHAPS the most physical unit in all of collegiate basketball during the past two years, San Sebastian College-Recoletos has suddenly been reduced to a pushover team since the departure of their head coach, Ato Agustin at the end of the 86^th season of the NCAA.
Well, at least on this day.
The UAAP Season 73’s 3^rd placer Adamson University took advantage of a depleted Golden Stags squad that fielded in just 8 players in their roster, and eliminated them from the Sweet 16 of the 2010 Philippine Collegiate Champions League. The final score was 65-54 in favor of the Falcons in their game held Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at the Fil-Oil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
Champions during the NCAA’s 85^th season, San Sebastian began life without Agustin, who is now the head coach of the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), by elevating assistant coach Eric Gascon to the head coaching job. In addition to that, main men Calvin Abueva and Ronald Pascual did not suit up today for personal reasons. Big man Rey Gorospe, Jonathan Semira and Lakay Najorda were not around as well.
“Ito yung ayaw na ayaw kong game dahil sa sitwasyon na ito na ang kalaban mo ay talagang kulang. 50% ng player nila ay wala. Napakahirap paghandaan dahil you have nothing to gain eh dito sa kalaban mo. At pagka natalo ka talagang kahihiyan yun,” said Adamson head coach, Leo Austria.
“Nag-struggle kami dahil yung mga players namin, alam nila na kaya nilang manalo dahil mahina yung kalaban. Wala yung mga key players nila,” he added.
“Pero on my part, as a coach pag ganyan, yun ang pinaka-mahirap as a coach. Pero sabi ko sa kanila, don’t underestimate this team. Kahit kulang ito, yung mga natira sa kanila, puwedeng first five starter ng any team in the UAAP or NCAA,” Austria added further.
The Falcons were led in scoring by Januz Lozada who finished with a game-high 21 points. Lester Alvarez contributed 15 points as well.
Playing in their final game for San Sebastian, Gilbert Bulawan managed to put up a double-double performance with 17 points and 12 rebounds while point guard Pamboy Raymundo did not score a single point as he was playing uninspired basketball.
Adamson can now look forward to their matchup against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the Quarter-final round of the tournament.
“Nag-start kami mag-prepare right after ng UniGames. I think maganda yung linaro ng team sa UniGames. After beating them [FEU] in the UniGames’ semi-finals, I think malinaw na malinaw at maliwanag pa sa kanila yun and hindi nila malilimutan yun. I think this time, they will prepare hard for this game,” said Austria.
Adamson and FEU will have their Elite 8 matchup on Monday, November 29, 2010, 2:00 P.M. at the Fil-Oil Flying V Arena in San Juan City. The games will be covered live by ABS-CBN Sports and aired on Studio 23.
The scores:
AdU 65 – Lozada 21, Alvarez 15, Camson 6, Cañada 5, Colina 4, Stinnett 4, Nuyles 4, Etrone 3, Brondial 2, Cabrera 1, Galinato 0, Manyara 0.
SSC-R 54 – Bulawan 17, Sangalang 11, dela Cruz 8, J. Gatchalian 6, Maiquez 6, del Rio 4, E. Gatchalian 2, Raymundo 0.
Quarter scoring: 18-13, 34-29, 49-44, 65-54.