Falcons pip Warriors, nail last quarterfinal berth

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

ADAMSON’S young guns came out steady in the tight endgame as the Falcons tripped the University of the East Warriors, 84-82, Sunday to claim the last quarterfinal berth in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

New recruit Robbie Manalang kept the Falcons afloat in the last two minutes to finish with a game-high 21 points, while sophomore swingman Frederick Tungcab poured in 16, including four straight free throws that gave them an 82-77 cushion, with just 22 seconds remaining.

“We’re surprised we even made it to the quarterfinals,” said new Adamson coach Franz Pumaren, who got the better of his older brother and UE mentor Derrick.

Papi Sarr added 17 points and 18 rebounds for the Falcons, who finished fourth in Group B with with a 4-3 record.

The Falcons will go up against National University, which grabbed the top seeding in Group A at 6-1 after outlasting Arellano, 68-65, in another thriller.

Matt Salem and Chino Mosqueda teamed up for 16 points, but the trio of Matthew Aquino, Reggie Morido and Cedrick Labing-isa also delivered inside the final minute with key baskets and rebounds.

“It was our defense that helped us get the win,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano. “It showed our character despite having a young team.”

Arellano slipped to a tie with idle Perpetual Help at 5-2, but the Altas claimed the second spot in Group A due to the winner-over-the-other tiebreak rule.

San Beda also got past Ateneo, 82-73, to finish second at 6-1, behind Group B leader La Salle.

The Red Lions will face the Chiefs, while the Blue Eagles will square off with the Altas in the do-or-die quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Donald Tankoua paced the Lions with 20 points and 13 boards, while AC Soberano buried all of his 15 points from three-point range on an solid 5-of-6 clip.

The scores:

First Game

SAN BEDA 82—Tankoua 20, Soberano 15, Mocon 11, Bolick 9, Sara 8, Noah 6, Oftana 5, Tongco 2, Presbitero 2, Bonsubre 2, Carlos 2, Potts 0, Navarro 0, Alas 0, Bahio 0, Adamos 0.

ATENEO 73—Ravena 22, Black 10, Ikeh 9, Wong 8, Tio 5, Nieto Ma. 4, Babilonia 4, Go 4, Porter 3, Mendoza 2, Asistio 2, Tolentino 0, Allmond 0, Nieto Mi. 0.

Quarters: 19-14, 40-36, 61-56, 82-73

Second Game

NU 68—Salem 15, Mosqueda 11, Aroga 7, Abatayo 7, Labing-isa 6, Aquino 6, Gallego 6, Diputado 4, Salim 4, Morido 2, Yu 0, Lastimosa 0, Go 0

ARELLANO 65—Jalalon 24, Holts 9, Canete 6, Flores 5, Viloria 5, Gumaru 4, Nicholls 2, Cadavis 2, Enriquez 2, Gupilan 2, Aguilar 2, Alcoriza 2, Salado 0, Meca 0, Rivera 0, Ongolo Ongolo 0

Quarters: 11-18, 28-29, 48-48, 68-65

Third Game

ADAMSON 84—Manalang 21, Sarr 17, Tungcab 16, Ahanmisi 10, Paranada 7, Ochea 6, Manganti 5, Pasturan 2, Ng 0, Bernardo 0, Camacho 0, Espeleta 0.

UE 82—Pasaol 17, Charcos 16, Penuela 13, Batiller 12, Palma 10, Acuno 4, Varilla 3, Gagate 2, Olayon 2, Armenion 2, Manalang 1, De Leon 0, Abanto 0, Larupay 0.

Quarters: 22-16, 44-35, 63-60, 84-82