UE posts 1st win, beats Adamson in UAAP Season 79

This time, University of the East wasn’t the one collapsing in the end.

Playing in their final game in the first half of the season, the Red Warriors avoided a winless first round after a 64-57 breakthrough win over the Adamson Falcons in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

UE battled back from an 11-point deficit in the third quarter as it went on a 13-1 run to start the fourth period and take a 53-46 lead.

RR de Leon and Alvin Pasaol had their moments in the endgame, but it was Philip Manalang who sealed the victory as he drained four free throws in the final minute.

“I thought I won’t see you guys in the first round,” UE head coach Derrick Pumaren said in jest, referring to the media.

“It was a hard earned victory for us. When we were up five in the middle of the fourth, I was telling my boys that there’s nothing to celebrate yet, the game is far from over and we just have to close out the game and thankfully, we did,” said Pumaren, whose team notched its first win after dropping its first six games of the season.

Pasaol poured in seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, on top of seven rebounds.

De Leon got 12 markers, four boards, and three assists, while Bon Batiller had all of his nine points in the second half.

Adamson fell to an even 3-3 record, with a game against UST slated on Wednesday to finish its first round assignment.

Papi Sarr topped the Soaring Falcons with 13 points, 25 rebounds, and four assists, while Jerrick Ahanmisi got 10 markers, five boards, and five dimes despite hurting his right leg early in the fourth.

The scores:

UE 64 – Pasaol 13, De Leon 12, Batiller 9, Manalang 7, Varilla 5, Bartolome 5, Olayon 5, Palma 2, Charcos 2, Penuela 2, Derige 2, Abanto 0.

ADAMSON 57 – Sarr 13, Ahanmisi 10, Manganti 8, Espeleta 6, Manalang 5, Ochea 5, Tungcab 5, Bernardo 3, Camacho 2, Mustre 0, Pasturan 0, Ng 0.

Quarters: 7-14, 21-30, 40-45, 64-57./rga