UAAP Season 89 is easily one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory. Everyone except the UE Red Warriors is within two games of one another, making the second round even more crucial. 

At 4-3, the Adamson Soaring Falcons have gone through everything that comes with playing in a league like the UAAP: They have had victories such as the ones over the FEU Tamaraws and the UST Growling Tigers, while they’ve suffered close losses to the UP Fighting Maroons and the Ateneo Blue Eagles. But all of these may have been topped by their first round closing win over the DLSU Green Archers. 

The Falcons nearly limited the Green Archers to single digits in the first quarter, but they nonetheless held the lead over LaSalle for a large portion of the game. DLSU mounted a furious rally and took the lead halfway through the final quarter, but Adamson was unfazed. Defense was critical in the final stretch and the Falcons’ relentless efforts helped set up Matty Erolon’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 30 seconds left in the game. 

Talent is not necessarily what Adamson is known for; the system Falcons head coach Nash Racela has instilled for half a decade focuses on a collective effort on defense, which has helped them become one of the UAAP’s best defenses seven games into Season 89. They allow the fewest points (65.9 points per game) by shutting down the perimeter and negating fastbreak opportunities and momentum from their opponents’ bench players. This has allowed Adamson to remain competitive despite a subpar offense (league-worst 68.0 points per game) and if not for a few chances that didn’t go their way, the Falcons could very well have been at the top of the Season 89 standings halfway through the season. 

Then again, Adamson keeping games close is helpful in a season where the margins are razor thin. Mistakes become more critical but this goes both ways; the Falcons forcing their opponents to commit ill-advised decisions wastes their chances, but if Adamson isn’t maximizing their own opportunities, their efforts could be for naught. 

Right now, though, the Falcons are in the thick of the Final Four race and they will have a week to regroup before once again opening the second half of their preliminary round campaign against the Tamaraws. While FEU’s squad remains essentially intact on paper, they have shown their true form after their opening day loss, and have the makings of a bonafide Final Four contender.  

The Adamson Soaring Falcons themselves have emerged as a contender, but they need to remain consistent as they have never gone on a winning nor losing streak. Trading wins and losses worked in the Falcons’ favor so far, but with the season gathering more momentum, that may not help their cause later on.