Fliloil Flying V Preseason Cup Morning Rundown: Lessons first, results later for the Adamson Soaring Falcons

(Photo Credit: Filoil Flying V Sports)

Being unbeaten usually means something good is happening. That's true, for the most part. You're winning, the result teams desire to get when they play basketball games.

The Adamson Soaring Falcons happen to be a team that's unbeaten in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup. Does that mean that they're doing good things? Yeah, they are. They're a team that's utilizing their depth and talent extremely well to be able to eke out victories.

But that's exactly the problem with these Soaring Falcons. They're just barely escaping with wins instead of blowing teams off the roof with the amount of talent that they have. The reality of it is that, if a team wants to be able to blow teams off the roof, talent's isn't enough (unless the disparity is THAT big). A team has to be able to mesh that talent well in order for it to work like a well-oiled machine. 

Right now, the Soaring Falcons have really great parts in their team. Jerrick Ahanmisi is arguably the best pure shooter in the UAAP, while Robbie Manalang and Jerie Pingoy make for a deadly point guard duo. Papi Sarr is one of the best foreign student athletes in recent memory. The goal now is to be able to mesh those parts together, just in time for the UAAP tournament.

That's the beauty of the Filoil tourney. It gives teams a chance to struggle and lose, in order for them to lean right on time for the UAAP tournament. Adamson's definitely taking that chance. Let's head n to the rundown.

Friday Scores:

Mapua Red Robins def. UE Junior Warriors 91-69

Lyceum Pirates def. UE Red Warriors 96-80

Adamson Soaring Falcons def. Mapua Cardinals 74-68

JRU Heavy Bombers def. Letran Knights 82-74

NU Bulldogs def. Arellano Chiefs 82-79

The Rundown

1. Mapua finds itself back on track, beating a hapless UE Junior Warriors team projected to finish last in the UAAP Juniors tournament. Warren Bonifacio was brilliant, as was former NCAA MVP Mike Enriquez.

2. Eric Jabel has found a home with the Red Robins. The former Baby Tamaraw has been brilliant in the Filoil tournament.

3. Lyceum's looking very scary right now. Their high octane is going to be very tough to stop in the upcoming NCAA season. Topex Robinson and crew are on a mission.

4. Adamson won, but Mapua managing to stick close enough to a much more talented team is the real story here. This Filoil tourney is the chance of the Cardinals to rebuild without Allwell Oraeme.

5. JRU is in a good position to contend in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Finally, it wasn't Teytey Teodoro who starred as MJ Dela Virgen led the way for the Heavy Bombers.

6. Letran has itself a big problem. Rey Nambatac is putting up 25 points per game, but they're still losing. Their lack of depth is killing them right now. 

7. NU managed to comeback against an Arellano team that's clearly missing Jio Jalalon right now. Both teams are a work in progress though. 

8. Matt Salem managed to put up a double-double. But that isn't the real story here. What's truly notable is how he shot more two pointers compared to three pointers. Someone wants to remove the "All I do is shoot threes" tag!