Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Adamson University edged University of the East, 84-82, to enter the quarterfinal stages of the Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup on Sunday at San Juan Arena.
Both the Soaring Falcons and Red Warriors own identical 3-3 records entering the game but it was Franz Pumaren who will go to the playoffs as his team finished fourth in Group B with a 4-3 slate while sending his older brother Derrick and his squad home.
Adamson was a team lost in the UAAP Season 78 only winning 3 of its 11 games and with how the Falcons have been able to compete in the offseason tournament, the younger Pumaren knows he’s seeing a much-improved Adamson side.
“There’s improvement, a very high percentage in terms of improvement,” he said. “When I took over we started from scratch.”
“We started applying all the rules, all the philosophies, and slowly they’re getting a good grasp of it.”
Adamson’s trip to the playoffs, though, wasn’t easy as the Falcons’ last game in the elimination round needed a few moments of heroism from Jaydee Tungcab.
Holding a precarious 78-77 lead with less than a couple of minutes remaining, Tungcab iced the game at the free throw line, hitting five of his six attempts to give Adamson an 83-79 advantage with 11.2 seconds left.
Alvin Pasaol tried to bring the Red Warriors back and his triple from the left wing to cut the lead to 83-82, but his heroics came a little too late.
Robbie Manalang, who hit back-to-back triples in the fourth to give Adamson a 76-75 bubble, had 21 points to lead the Falcons while Papi Sarr had a 17-point, 18-rebound double-double.
Tungcab and Jerrick Ahanmisi also finished in double digits with 16 and 10 points, respectively.
Pasaol led the Red Warriors with 17 points while Edgar Charcos filled the stat sheets with 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists.