‘Gusto niyo pa ba?’: Racela grateful Adamson responded to challenge with win over Ateneo

MANILA – With the Adamson University Soaring Falcons going winless in the second round of the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball tournament, coach Nash Racela asked a tough question which he hoped would challenge his players.

The veteran mentor sat down with his players following their tough loss to University of the East (UE) last week, their fourth straight defeat.

“I’m sure they felt the UE loss. It was really a hard loss. You really deserve that. They worked for that win and we did not. Well, of course, we did but it wasn’t enough,” Racela shared during the post-game press conference on Wednesday.

“Mahirap din. But that’s why when they lost their fourth [game], that’s a question I had when we had that meeting. Gusto niyo pa ba? Do you still have that in you? So that was a little bit of a challenge for them,” he added.

Racela’s wards responded to his challenge with a crucial 62-55 victory over Ateneo de Manila University, boosting their chances of entering the Final Four. 

“Almost a month of not winning, ‘no? So, all the while, I thought, mase-zero kami sa second round. So, it’s good that we were able to get that win today. It was a tough one against Ateneo,” he said.

“At least today they deserved it. They worked for it. And hopefully, we could, sabi nga ni Jonah it was their energy today that gave us the win. And we were all hoping that we could bring it to the next two games,” Racela added.

Sophomore swingman Manu Anabo said the team rallied behind each other during their viewing before the Ateneo game, knowing there’s still a slim chance to enter the Final Four.

“It’s on us kung gagawan namin ng paraan, kasi sila nalang magbibigay sa amin ng mga sets na i-rurun sa game. Eh nasa sa amin na ‘yun kung gagawin namin ng tama ‘yung pinapagawa ni coach. Thankful kami nakabalik kami and hopefully magtuloy-tuloy kami,” Anabo said.

“After the viewing, nag-usap-usap kami. ‘Yun nga, it’s not yet over. May pag-asa pa. So kumbaga  tomorrow pagka punta natin sa game, sabi ni Ray Allen Torres, it’s either we live or we die,” he shared.

Carrying this mindset into the game against the Blue Eagles, the Soaring Falcons held on to the hope that a win could turn things around for them in the second round.

“Energy kailangan start of the game palang. Kasi usually start of the game, natatalo kami sa pag-tip palang. Kumbaga puro ‘yung games namin, puro trailing kami, naghahabol kami. So ‘yung team nag-usap-usap and thankfully nag-respond kami,” Anabo said.

“It’s not the end, though. You just win one A-game at a time. Same energy we bring in today, second, we use that same energy to our next game as well… Same energy, same defense. Once the defense comes, the offense will also come as well,” Precious Jonah added.

Racela hopes Adamson takes the victory as a stepping stone to take flight in their last two games in the second round.

“We’ll use this game as a spring board. But we really have to focus on the next game. And that’s how it has been the whole season, whether we’re coming off a win or a loss. Next play mentality, next game mentality,” he said.

“I think the last three games, nakalaban namin are all still contending for the final four. Kaya sabi namin, may control kami dun sa fate namin, because if you win and we beat those teams, then we move up. We did our part today. Hopefully, we do our part again Sunday,” Racela added.

Adamson will next face De La Salle University on Sunday still at The Big Dome.