ADAMSON coach Leo Austria wants his players to trust their capabilities as the Falcons try to stay at the second spot against La Salle in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament today.
“Until now, they still don’t believe in themselves 100 percent,” said Austria. “Everyday I’m trying to remind them that every team in the UAAP is beatable, and that our opponents also know they can’t take us for granted.”
The Falcons go for a fourth victory versus the Green Archers, who hope to avoid another meltdown in their 4 p.m. match at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
University of Santo Tomas, aiming to rebound from a second loss, also tries to keep a share of second against winless University of the Philippines at 2 p.m.
The Falcons and the Tigers are tied at 3-2, behind idle Far Eastern University, which holds the top spot with a perfect 6-0 card.
The Tigers, though, still have to do without Jeric Teng, the senior swingman who averaged 15 points before sustaining a shoulder injury.
“It’s harder without him because that’s also 15 points,” forward Kevin Ferrer said after the Tigers bowed to the Tamaraws, 77-67, last Sunday.
The Archers, meanwhile, try to rebound from back-to-back losses where they blew double-digit leads in the closing minutes.
Veteran guard Almond Vosotros erupted for 26 points but his efforts went to waste as the Archers threw a 10-point advantage in the last eight minutes against University of the East, 83-85.
The heartbreaker came just a week after the Archers also collapsed against the Tamaraws where they blew a 13-point lead in the final three minutes of regulation before bowing in overtime, 79-83.