Ahanmisi, Falcons hold off Maroons in UAAP opener

Adamson’s Robbie Manalang (1) goes for an acrobatic layup against University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Rookie Jerrick Ahanmisi proved to be good as advertised and Adamson hammered out a resounding 104-85 victory over University of the Philippines Sunday at the start of the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ahanmisi, the Fil-Nigerian guard, caught fire in the third period, torching the net with his three treys and hitting 13 of his 28 points in that frame to allow the Soaring Falcons to erect a 71-52 lead with 2:17 left.

He finished with a 6-of-7 shooting from threes and six rebounds.

The Fighting Maroons clawed their way back in the fourth behind Paul Desiderio, cutting the deficit to six, 83-77, before Papi Sarr and Sean Manganti finished the game with a 21-8 tear for Adamson.

“It’s nice to be back,” said Adamson coach Franz Pumaren.

Robbie Manalang got 16 markers and nine assists, while captain Dawn Ochea had 13 points, four boards, and two assists.

The Cameroonian Sarr wound up with 13 markers, 11 rebounds, ans two blocks in the victory.

Despite scoring the win, the multi-titled mentor still rued the 27 turnovers his team committed in the game.

“I know for a fact that there will be lot jitters and it showed a bit,” Pumaren said. “For me, I still classify them as a rookie-laden team. We have so many mental mistakes, but we’ll take this win. What’s important is we maximize our strength right now.”

Paul Desiderio led UP with 24 points and six rebounds, but shot 10-of-22 from the field.
Jett Manuel had 15 markers, while Dave Moralde got 12 points and five boards in the defeat.

The scores:

ADAMSON 104 – Ahanmisi 28, Manalang 16, Ochea 13, Sarr 13, Mustre 9, Manganti 8, Tungcab 6, Pasturan 6, Ng 4, Paranada 1, Camacho 0.

UP 83 – Desiderio 24, Manuel 15, Moralde 12, Asilum 11, Vito 7, Webb 5, Harris 5, Gomez de Liano 2, Romero 2, Lao 2, Dario 0, Lim 0, Prado 0, Jaboneta 0, Longa 0.

Quarters: 28-18, 46-38, 73-57, 104-85.