Perasol rues UP’s poor defense in opening loss to Adamson

UP head coach Bo Perasol. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines coach Bo Perasol was pleased with the Fighting Maroons’ performance despite losing to the Adamson Falcons in the opener of the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament Sunday.

The only problem Perasol saw was the Soaring Falcons were also at their best.

“For me, we brought in our good game, but if we come out against a team like Adamson who’s also playing a good game, I don’t think we can win,” Perasol said after UP’s 104-85 defeat to open the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament.

“We hope to bring our excellent game, but our best game versus Adamson’s best game, that’s a no contest with what they showed today.”

Though he had no problems with his team’s offense, Perasol rued that the Fighting Maroons should pick it up defensively in the next games.

“Looking forward, we need to find a way to get our opponents out of sync. We just can’t have a good game and let our opponents have good games also. Obviously, marami pa kaming maa-adjust defensively. We were able to make stops, but in the end kinapos pa rin,” he said.

The Falcons had a field day against the Fighting Maroons, shooting 66 percent from the field and a mercurial 68 percent shooting clip from threes.

With a game under his belt, Perasol is optimistic that sooner or later, UP can bounce back in the next games.

“This is just the first game,” he said. “I was telling them the score was not a reflection of how we played.”

But it won’t be easy with overwhelming favorite La Salle up next for UP.

“It’s going to be a tough game against La Salle, but we’re going to be tested eh. That’s the most important thing in this tournament, if we’re gonna be tested, what are we going to do?”/rga