Adamson’s Royce Mantua during a game against Ateneo in UAAP Season 87.—MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Whatever was left in the tank of Adamson, the best time to empty it was in a crucial clash against Ateneo on Saturday.

“Let everything out; don’t preserve anything else,” coach Nash Racela urged his players.

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They did. And now the Falcons have to find a way to gas up again.

A 69-55 victory over Ateneo in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament put Adamson into a knockout game against University of the East (UE).

Racela’s squad has three days to get ready for that one.

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“[The coaches told us] to show our character. If we’re willing to win this game, [we have to] show [it through our] fight,” Royce Mantua said, firing 14 points to help extend Adamson’s season to at least another playdate.

“We really took that to heart and really did it.”

Adamson and UE, both tied at 6-8 (win-loss), will slug it out for the No. 4 spot on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena, with the winner advancing to a semifinal showdown against defending champion La Salle.

The disparity of talent isn’t the only thing the winner of the knockout match will worry about. The Archers are also armed with twice-to-beat protection, putting Adamson and UE in a twisty, uphill path to the Finals.

But if the Falcons survive all that, they may just have a shot at an upset.

All they need is a repeat of their performance against Ateneo.

“I guess it’s something that our players are starting to learn: really play for each other and not only [thinking] ‘I need to shoot,’ but [looking] for that [extra pass],” Racela said after sending Ateneo to the bottom of the standings with a 4-10 card.

Manu Anabo pitched in 13 points and Matt Erolon added 11 points, the two Falcons whose hits from beyond the arc helped Adamson to an 11-of-28 clip there.

The Falcons also had a lot of help from the bench, which scored 42 points.

“From our end as coaches, we just try to wake them up every time. [I] think that’s something that they need [from us] every day, every minute. Good thing that they woke up a bit earlier,” Racela said.

Wrong optics

This is also the third straight time that Adamson forced a playoff for a Final Four spot—and it’s not at all a bad thing for Racela.

“We’re willing to go through that every year. If that’s our shot to make it to the Final Four,” he said. “I know that our players really deserve it because we still have a chance … As long as you do your part, you will get rewarded.”

The season was filled with missed opportunities for Adamson. And although it looked like the Falcons were to blame for their woes, Racela had earlier said the optics produced a different story.

“Sometimes when you look at [the Falcons], it looks like they don’t understand, they don’t embrace [having the opportunity to advance to the Final Four] so sometimes I feel annoyed [that] I keep on reminding them,” Racela said.

“But I think that’s how younger guys are now. Deep inside they know; they care. From my end as a coach, I want to make sure I am not remiss in reminding them [about embracing opportunities]. I know they all understand the importance of every game.”

UE coach Jack Santiago was an invested observer of Saturday’s showdown, having missed, too, eluding semifinal complications.

The Warriors won five of their first seven games and were at No. 3 for the majority of the season until a slide in the second half left them vulnerable at the No. 4 slot.