UAAP: Falcon Flowers

Falcon Flowers

Adamson die-hards share their story

By Josiah Israel Albelda

23 August 2010

Late in the third quarter of their game against De La Salle, Adamson forward Jan Colina skied high to block Luigi dela Paz. Colina was quite successful, erasing the rookie's layup attempt and earning screams from the crowd.

Then came a whistle. There was a foul.

Hector Tabuzo, waving his shiny blue Jan Colina streamer, ran amuck and threw invectives at the referee. "Ayusin mo tawag mo ref! Ayusin mooooooo!" he screamed as he lunged through the steel fence separating the playing court from the ringside seats.

Not a few eyes were fixed on this gay man, who has been doing this for the past seven seasons.

Behind him was Teddy, a chubby "lass" with spiked hair and a face reddened by whitening soap. He was echoing the same thing: "Ayusin mo tawag mo ref!"

Hector and Teddy might be a couple of big reasons why the Adamson Falcons have soared beyond expectations in the first round of Season 73 of the UAAP men's basketball tournament.

Their courtside antics, which draw the ire of opposing fans and the support of the Adamson faithful, have added spice to the already flavorful world of UAAP hoops.

"Go Adamson! Fight! Fight! Fight!" the duo screamed as the Falcons inched closer to the Green Archers.

'Mababait sila'

Many may wonder why these people shout, scream and dance their hearts out for the San Marcelino squad. Hector, according to Teddy, has a day job at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology while the latter maintains a small eatery with his sister.

"Mababait sila at magagaling," said Hector, who has been cheering for the team since Season 66. Teddy shared the same sentiment. "Kahit sa amin, mabait sila."

This kindness might have been the very reason why the two go all out every time Adamson has a game. They are the epitomes of energy, endlessly jumping, gyrating and, sometimes, even rolling on the floor for their beloved team.

As a matter of fact, the two have been so immersed in the Falcons' lair that Hector was given his own UAAP ID, usually reserved for athletics officials, the media and the league's sponsors.

Hector, also an irrepressible Alaska fan, said that he was tagged along by former head coach Luigi Trillo, who is now an assistant to Leo Austria, after Trillo saw his dedication as an Aces diehard.

A bright future

For all the woes that Adamson has gone through -- a string of Final Four misses and scores of losses -- over the past few years, Hector and Teddy see a bright future for the Falcons.

"I believe that we can go through all the way to the finals," Teddy proudly exclaimed. "Alex Nuyles, Jan Colina and Lester Alvarez are all great players."

Hector also envisions nothing short of a Final Four appearance for this stacked squad. "Sigurado na kami sa Final Four. And of course, I think we could go all the way."

On the court, Alvarez drained a trey. The Falcons slowly took the driver's seat and never relinquished it. Adamson streaked to its fifth win, good for second in a tournament where they were not one of the favorites.

I turned around. There they were, waving their Lester Alvarez streamer and gyrating to the beat of the Adamson Pep Squad, in seventh heaven because of yet another win.

"Go Adamson! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

As fans slowly walked out of the PhilSports Arena on a rainy Sunday afternoon, someone shouted at Hector: "Hector! Panalo ka na naman."

The Falcon Flower just laughed, looked at his partner Teddy, and proceeded to the Adamson dugout.

It's party time.