THE Adamson Baby Falcons forfeited 11 won games after the board of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines declared one of their top players ineligible.
According to eligibility committee chairman Rodrigo Roque, top MVP candidate Florencio Serrano failed to submit the required secondary student’s permanent record that would show his complete high school records.
Because of this, Serrano can no longer see action in the ongoing 79th UAAP junior basketball tournament.
With the forfeiture, the defending champion National University Bullpups emerged as the top qualifier to the Final Four semifinals with 11 wins and a loss.
The Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws assumed the second seeding with their 11-1 card and the Ateneo Blue Eagles earned the third seeding at 9-3.
The final slot to the Final Four is now under dispute by La Salle-Zobel, University of the Philippines Integrated School and University of Santo Tomas, which all share fourth with similar 5-7 slates.
The Baby Falcons, who were on top at 10-1 before the forfeiture, bounced back Wednesday morning with a 92-58 smashing of the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs at the Arena in San Juan.
Gerry Abadiano shot 27 points for the Baby Falcons, who picked their first win in 13 games.
The Baby Falcons started strong and were ahead by 24 points, 51-27 at halftime.
Two other teammates, Jojo Antiporda and Rence Padrigao, scored in double digits with 11 and 10 points.
