The Adamson Soaring Falcons shocked hosts FEU Tamaraws on Sunday, pulling off a 56‑53 victory to start their UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament campaign on a winning note. And one of the prime movers of that win was Monte Montebon, who played a stellar opening for Adamson.
The fourth‑year guard led the Soaring Falcons with 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 steals, and Montebon afterward credited his mental preparation for what he expects to be a grueling season.
“My whole mindset coming in this season is really to just take it one day at a time, one game at a time,” he said in the post‑game interview at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. “FEU is a very tough team. We’re so lucky and blessed to come out with a win today.”
Montebon’s Two-Way Masterclass
In the second half, Montebon spearheaded Adamson’s defensive clinic—helping the team make timely stops, making correct reads, and disrupting the scoring rhythm of FEU’s guards. The senior guard, though, is refusing to get too high, noting that it is just one win. Now, the focus is to win another and start 2-0.
“I’m just gonna try to celebrate tonight, come back tomorrow, do what I gotta do to get my body right, my mind right,” he said. “Our eyes are set on Ateneo [Blue Eagles]—do what we gotta do to get that win.”
Adamson has consistently relied on Montebon over the last couple of years. While not necessarily an explosive scorer, his overall game—often not fully reflected on the stat sheet—has been instrumental in the Soaring Falcons’ success.
With Montebon continuing to provide both scoring and the intangibles that contribute to winning, the Soaring Falcons will look to their veteran guard as they aim to reach greater heights this season.
