FILE PHOTO: Paul Desiderio vs Adamson defender. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of the Philippines got its first back-to-back wins in the the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament, nipping Adamson University, 70-66, Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Fighting Maroons, who also defeated University of the East and Ateneo, improved to 3-6 while the Falcons slipped to 4-5.
With Adamson getting too close for comfort after Robbie Manalang cut the Fighting Maroons’ seven-point lead to just 65-61, Jett Manuel rose up to the occasion and hit an off-balanced fader to douse any momentum and push UP ahead, 69-63, with 25.2 seconds left.
UP head coach Bo Perasol was satisfied with how his team stood their ground and showed the resolve even against the Falcons’ comeback bid late in the game.
“We think that we were able to get that composure back at the end,” said Perasol. “They threatened to rally but we held our ground.”
“I was telling Jett ‘if you want to be the leader of the team you have to take crucial shots,’ I have to say that he was able to do that in the end.”
The Fighting Maroons came out slow as Adamson raced to a 20-9 lead but managed to fight back with a blistering 21-9 run to end the half aheadm 30-29.
Paul Desiderio led UP with 16 points apiece while Javi Gomez De Liaño added 13 points and six rebounds.
Papi Sarr had 18 points and 11 rebounds but struggled from the field with a 7-of-15 shooting clip and turned the ball over six times for Adamson.
The Scores
UP (70) – Desiderio 16, Manuel 16, De Liano 13, Moralde 5, Harris 4, Lim 4, Romero 4, Vito 4, Prado 2, Webb 2, Asilum 0, Dario 0, Espanola 0, Jaboneta 0, Lao 0, Longa 0.
Adamson (66) – Sarr 18, Manalang 10, Ochea 8, Paranada 8, Manganti 6, Ng 5, Espeleta 4, Pasturan 3, Camacho 2, Mustre 2, Ahanmisi 0, Bernardo 0.
Quarters: 9-20, 29-30, 50-44, 70-66.