Eaglets go 10 for 10, defeats Adamson, 79-66

I wasn't able to shoot today's game between the Blue Eaglets and The Baby Falcons. Whenever that happens I usually turn to Facebook for updates. For today's late game, I relied on my good friend and fellow sports shooter Aly Yap for the updates. He usually posts scores per quarter. When I saw the first quarter scores at 22-24 in favor of Adamson, I wasn't too worried yet. Usually the Eaglets don't establish big leads in the first quarter. There have been occasions, like their first round against the Falcons, where the Eaglets were behind. They usually make the proper adjustments in the second quarter and they find themselves comfortably ahead.

After an update that Kiefer Ravena dunked the ball in the game, the next post was that at half time, ADMU was up 44 to 43. Now this worried me a little. Thoughts of peaking too early come to mind. Usually when I watch teams going on streaks, I find myself asking if they have already reached their peak. Are they on the way down? Case in point, the current FEU team. At the of the first round they looked like they would be unstoppable. They gored their way through every opponent that they encountered. However towards the end of the second round their end games didn't seem quite convincing. And by the time they met a vastly improved Adamson Falcon squad, their sweep was swept under the rug. In their next game, they almost lost to UE in regulation, winning it only after an extra 5 mins. Are the Eaglets peaking too early? The third quarter pretty much answered that question.

As I said in my Lady Eagle's entry that basketball is also about adjustments. When I read Aly's next entry, it said something like "the team was scolded for their loose defense". And the scolding did a lot for the team. Next thing I knew, Aly's post read: "hey tightened their defense therefor the lead ballooned to 14, 67-53 end of 3rd". So adjust did the Eaglets. That third quarter run may have well clipped the Baby Falcon's wings. As the final score read 79-66.

So the Eaglets are now 10-0. Only 4 more to get the sweep. But more importantly, they only need to win 2 more games to get the twice to beat in the Final Four. And to assure them of the top spot, they will need to win 3. Their final four games will be against the following:

1. UPIS (Aug 21, 12:30pm)
2. DLSZ (Aug 24, 5:45pm)
3. FEU (Aug 28, 2:15pm)
4. NU (Aug 31, 2:45pm)

3 of the four teams are Final Four contenders. DLSZ and FEU are as of now in a three-way tie with UST for slots 3 and 4. Both teams are dangerous and may give Ateneo a run for it's money. NU is at 2nd place and they are in the best position to beat the Eaglets. UP, though at the bottom of the standings may pull the rug under Ateneo and surprise them.

The Eaglets aren't peaking too early. The coaching staff has conditioned and prepared them well. They still have the chops to win it all. Defense has always been the Eaglets best weapon in their blazing run. They need to remain focused and disciplined in their defense in each game that they play from now on. And who knows, maybe a third consecutive Juniors Trophy may make it to the halls of the AHS campus.

Go Eaglets! One Big Fight!