Romwel Anzures

Article (news)

Adamson University star Matthew Montebon

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758035809709IMG_6002.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Adamson University star Matthew Montebon during the UAAP Season 88 preseason press conference. Photo by Shayne Lee Andreas Macaraeg, ABS-CBN News Intern."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Adamson University star Matthew Montebon during the UAAP Season 88 preseason press conference. <em>Photo by Shayne Lee Andreas Macaraeg, ABS-CBN News Intern.</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Adamson University looks to maintain its place in the upper echelon of the UAAP as it enters the Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.</div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/11/uaap-brighter-lights-bigger-stage-expected-in-season-88-every-team-is-more-competitive-0900"><strong>READ: Brighter lights, bigger stage expected in Season 88 —‘Every team is more competitive’</strong></a></div><p>After a Final 4 finish in the previous year, the Soaring Falcons are back for more in a campaign that is set to be spearheaded by their veterans Matthew Montebon and Cedrick Manzano.</p><p>“Yung leadership nila ay importante,” AdU head coach Nash Racela told ABS-CBN News. “Their presence is a blessing to our younger players. Nakikita nila kung paano sila sa ensayo, kung paano sila magtrabaho.”</p><p>In their preparation for the UAAP season, the Soaring Falcons — unlike the rest of their competition who each had their respective overseas trips — focused on local pocket tournaments around the country.</p><p>Adamson copped the 2025 AsiaBasket Invitationals, the Cebu Inter-collegiate Invitational, and another preseason tilt in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur together with two more, and Racela hopes that this would benefit his squad especially since they are to parade a number of young stars in the main UAAP stage.</p><p>“Hindi kami tulad nung ibang programa na nagpunta sa ibang bansa. Kami, andito lang sa Philippines,” he said. “We were still fortunate to get invitations from different provinces, so kami naman, we just took advantage of the hospitality na binigay sa amin, and yung importance nun para sa development ng team.”</p><div>“Mahaba yung proseso para sa mga bata, so sana talagang nakatulong yung mga trip namin,” he added.<br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758035930311IMG_8327.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Adamson University’s prized rookie Earl Medina in the 18th FilOil Preseason Cup. Photo from FilOil EcoOil Sports."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Adamson University’s prized rookie Earl Medina in the 18th FilOil Preseason Cup. <em>Photo from FilOil EcoOil Sports.</em></span></span></span></div><div><strong>Another Pearl in Earl Medina?</strong></div><p>Facing the departure of the likes of Joshua Yerro, Jhon Calisay, and Royce Mantua, Adamson will now look to integrate young aces Earl Medina, Allen Perez, Kobe Demisana, and Jireh Tumaneng.</p><p>Racela shared that their transition so far has been promising, especially Medina&#x27;s.</p><p>“Ang pinaka mas naramdaman namin, si Medina,” said the former PBA coach. “The reason behind that is he joined us early. Mga March, napasok pa siya sa high school, pero nasa amin na siya kaya mas madali siyang na-incorporate sa sistema namin.”</p><p>The 6-foot-3 Medina, a former Gilas Pilipinas youth player, was a member of the Adamson Baby Falcons Season 86 championship team.</p><p>He then went on to scatter 11.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks for Adamson in Season 87 boys basketball, numbers that eventually allowed him to earn a No. 16 ranking in this year’s National Basketball Training Center (NBTC).</p><p>In one of his first tastes of collegiate action during the 18th FilOil Preseason Cup, Medina also showed flashes of his brilliance, posting 11.3 markers, 3.5 boards, and 1.3 dimes for the San Marcelino-based ballers.</p><p>These were enough for Medina to receive one of their vets’ approval, with Montebon hailing the 19-year-old, who was even the MVP of their AsiaBasket stint.</p><p>“Ever since he came to the team, he has been so eager to learn and to get better,” raved Montebon. “In almost every interview, I’ve always brought him up. He works out a lot, and has put a lot of work in, so I’m excited for him.</p><p>For his part, the 22-year-old Montebon — who is now in his penultimate year with Adamson U — is starting to embrace his newest role of being among their seniors, guiding their young stars.</p><p>“A lot of our vets have left or graduated, so me, being one of the more tenured players on our team, they look to me to lead,” the 6-foot guard said. “At first, it was a challenge. I’m kinda a jokester during our practices. I like having fun, but I’ve learned to lessen it and focus a little bit more so the younger guys can follow.”</p><p>“It’s still a learning process, but I just try to lead by example,” he added. <strong></strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>No pressure, just patience</strong></div><p><strong></strong>While Montebon, Manzano, and the rest of the Soaring Falcons are confident that replicating or even improving upon thier Final 4 stint last year is possible, Racela is doing his part in putting things into perspective for his team.</p><p>Not that he lacks confidence in his players — Racela and Adamson were even the only ones who fully believed that they could overcome the odds en route to a semifinals stint last season — but the one-time UAAP Champion coach wants his team to take things patiently as they parade a mix of young and tenured stars in Season 88.</p><p>“Ayaw naming bigyan ng burden yung mga players,” Racela pointed out.</p><p>“To be honest, we do not talk about the Final 4 and beyond. We all know, at the back of our minds, kung ano yung gusto at goals naming mangyari, pero hindi namin yun pinaguusapan,” he added.</p><p>Adamson opens its UAAP Season 88 campaign on Saturday, September 20, 4:30 p.m., in a Season 87 Final 4 rematch against De La Salle University at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion in España.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABhKxY2HjtwGPlTe"></script><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABhKyJZbGoFKtyun"></script>

<p>#UAAPSeason 88 Preview | “It’s still a learning process, but I just try to lead by example,” says Adamson star Matthew Montebon.</p>

#UAAPSeason 88 Preview | “It’s still a learning process, but I just try to lead by example,” says Adamson star Matthew Montebon.

UAAP: With Adamson expected to flaunt young stars, Montebon embraces role as veteran

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Basketball

UAAP: With Adamson expected to flaunt young stars, Montebon embraces role as veteran

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 18, 2025 09:00 AM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

UAAP

ABSSports

UAAP Season 88

UAAP Basketball

Adamson University

Monty Montebon

Nash Racela

Cedrick Manzano

Earl Medina

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.