Joem Sabandal looks to step up for Adamson Falcons

MANILA, Philippines – Adamson Falcon Joem Sabandal has gone from being just one of the many team stars in the juniors squad to the man. And with the seniors team, from a role player and a backup, he is now the leader.

If you ask him, he is fine with playing any role that is required of him. 

“I just want to do my best and help the team win and bring glory to Adamson,” he says.

In Adamson’s previous outing — a huge 79-76 win over the University of Santo Tomas — Sabandal was mired in a miserable shooting game and had four turnovers when he scored a crucial basket late in the game. Although UST drew level to send the match into overtime, more importantly for Sabandal, he found his confidence and that familiar big game self of his.

The senior playmaker added seven crucial points in the extra period to tow his team to its first win in this Season 86 (against a 68-51 loss to the University of the Philippines on opening day).

After losing its stars — Jerom Lastimosa, Ap Manlapaz and Lenda Dounga — from the previous seasons, he knows that he will have to step up his game if they want to crash the Final Four party.

“I make sure I learn every single day,” Sabandal emphasized. “I have to take on more responsibilities. But I am ready.”

With one more playing year left in his college career, Sabandal is intent on making the most out of these final two seasons.

“I just have to improve all the time,” he simply said.

This far in two matches, the Falcons court general is averaging 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists versus 2.5 turnovers in a little over 23 minutes per game.

He has been thrust forward in the absence of Lastimosa, who will be out for the entire year with a knee injury that prematurely ended his final campaign. 

That is already an improvement from his Season 85 averages of 6.43 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in under 20 minutes of play.