Adamson sets semifinal duel vs unbeaten NU

FILE – Adamson Falcons’ bench. –FILOIL PHOTO

The Adamson Falcons booked a semifinal berth in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup after an 83-71 victory over the Lyceum Pirates on Tuesday—fashioned out minus top gun Jerom Lastimosa.

“It was intentional on our part not to play him (Jerom) today. No. 1, because he got so tired from Kadayawan in Davao,” Adamson coach Nash Racela said. “We played four games in four nights, plus the travel, [and] we arrived at 9 p.m. last night and then played again today at 11 a.m. [the next day].”

“No. 2 is, again, we wanted other guys to really step up and learn to play without Jerom,” Racela added.

The Falcons will need to step up big time for Thursday’s semifinal. They will be facing the National University (NU) Bulldogs, who have so far swept their games until the quarterfinals on Tuesday, when they ousted the San Sebastian Stags, 75-64.

“We’re always ready. These players know their jobs. They know that despite injuries, they are prepared to step up,” head coach Jeff Napa of the Bulldogs said.

NU did not have starters Steve Nash Enriquez (hamstring) and John Lloyd Clemente (illness) during yesterday’s outing.

“JLC’s (John Lloyd Clemente) under the weather; hopefully, he can play next game. Nash, on the other hand, is out. He needs to rest first in order to prepare for the upcoming UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) season,” Napa said in Filipino.

The Falcons are expected to have Lastimosa back for the semifinals, and the team’s bench has earned a shot of confidence after a strong performance against the Pirates. —CONTRIBUTED