Falcons gun for PCCL crown vs fancied Eagles

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson shoots for a first men’s basketball crown in seven years at the expense of defending champion Ateneo today in Game 2 of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) finals at the Philsports Arena.

Getting a confidence boost from their 80-78 thriller of a win in the opener of the best-of-three showdown, the Soaring Falcons look to finish off the Blue Eagles and become champions again since ruling the University Games in 2003 and the UAAP back in 1977.

The San Marcelino-based cagers have come close to striking gold in their most recent tournaments, finishing third in the UAAP and second in the Unigames. And Adamson fans are hopeful that the upward trend continues and the Falcons will finally hit paydirt in the PCCL.

“Even if we did not win (the title) in the UAAP, it will be a great achievement for us if we win the PCCL and be the national champions,” said coach Leo Austria in Filipino.

After being swept by the Eagles in their three meetings in the recent UAAP (actually 28 overall dating back to 1994), the Falcons exacted some measure of revenge by wiping out the Eagles’ 12-point lead and outplaying them in a neck-and-neck battle down the stretch to take Game 1 last Thursday.

Austria got a more mature showing from Alex Nuyles, who scored the game-winning three-point play, and Jan Colina, who topscored with 16 and made a crucial defensive stop in the dying seconds, as well as seldom-used John Brondial, who had eight points and 12 rebounds.

“I’m happy that we beat Ateneo in a very close game, which shows the boys are slowly learning to handle endgame pressure,” said Austria. “But I know they (Ateneo) will bounce back hard, being in a no-tomorrow situation.”

The Eagles have actually faced the same 0-1 predicament in last year’s PCCL finale, but rebounded strong to defeat Far Eastern U twice for the diadem.