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AFTER two playdates in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League zonal tournament in Cebu City, the Adamson University Falcons remain undefeated and are on course for a first-ever Sweet 16 appearance in the annual cagefest.

On Day 1 last November 6, coach Leo Austria’s troops silenced a raucous Cebu Coliseum crowd by edging CESAFI runner-up University of Cebu, 78-72. With the San Marcelino five up by just three with 27 ticks left in the game, Rookie and Laguna native Roider Cabrera buried a crucial triple that put some separation between his squad and UC. Jan Colina, ironically a one-time CESAFI juniors Most Valuable Player for University of Cebu, and Eric Camson paced the Falcons with 14 points apiece.

The next day, the Falcons took the floor against CESAFI fourth-placer University of San Jose-Recoletos with the same mindset and rightfully so, a similar outcome. This time, it was Aldrin Margallo, a swingman in his final season with the Falcons, and Janus Lozada who did much of the damage, tallying 15 points apiece to slay their second straight CESAFI opponent. USJ-R had a difficult time setting up their offensive schemes, as evidenced by lead gunman Edwin Bibera’s five-point output. Instead, teammate Jemar dela Peña took over the scoring cudgels for the Jaguars, pacing them with 18 points. Marksman Aniceto Lapiz added 16 in a losing cause.

Meanwhile, an upset of sorts caught the public eye as NAASCU back-to-back defending champions San Sebsatian College-Recoletos de Cavite outlasted sister school University of San Jose-Recoletos in the first game of Day 1 action, 86-77. NAASCU MVP Jun Gracilla and sidekick Kris Lucernas supplied all the ammo in a game that went down the wire. With the Baycats on top, 73-69 midway through the final quarter, USJ-R’s Jemar dela Peña and Edwin Bibera scored a bundle of points to help the Jags reclaim the lead, 74-73.

Mark Basa, a second-string forward for coach Egay Macaraya’s squad, proved to be the hero as he scored four pivotal points to counter the Jaguar run. Raymond Alcasabas and Lyle Antipuesto then put the finishing touches on USJ-R.

In the Baycats’ next game, however, they faced a literal brick wall as 6’9 Junmar Fajardo gave his opponents fits on the offensive end. That proved to be the difference as UC lived yet another day thanks to an 84-76 triumph.

After two playdates, Adamson leads the field with a 2-0 mark. UC and SSC-R Cavite are both tied at 1-1, with USJ-R already out of contention at 0-2. An Adamson win over SSC-R Cavite and UC triumph over San Jose-Recoletos would book their Sweet 16 tickets. However, a three-way logjam could ensue if Adamson loses and the Webmasters defeat the Jaguars. Should that occur, a quotient system will be applied. The top two teams adavance to the Sweet 16.

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