Make or break for Falcons

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson fights for dear life against also-ran Ateneo today and will try to force a knockout match with the University of the East for the last Final Four ticket in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Game time is at 5:30 p.m. for the final match of the two-round eliminations to determine the Falcons’ fate of either staying in contention or getting the boot right there and then.

Sporting a 5-8 slate, Adamson with a win could drag UE (6-8) to a knockout setto and the right to join La Salle (12-2), University of the Philippines (11-3) and Santo Tomas (7-7) in the semis.

A loss to the Eagles (4-9) would slam the door on the Falcons and give the Warriors their first semifinal appearance in 14 years.

“Ang reminder lang namin is to take advantage of the opportunity given to us,” said coach Nash Racela as Adamson, which stayed alive following UE’s 77-67 loss to UP last Wednesday for the former’s fifth straight loss. A Warriors win in that match could have sealed the last spot and eliminated the Falcons outright.

And the dribblers from San Marcelino are out to pounce on that new-found blessing.

“At this point, tatlo na ‘yung na-out. For us, ‘wag lang sayangin itong chance. Dapat, ‘di kami madale sa effort. The desire to win has to be there,” added Racela.

That, however, would be easier said than done especially against the Blue Eagles with no pressure on their backs other than a good morale-boosting win heading to the next season after a dismal campaign.