Adamson bolsters Final Four bid, snaps FEU streak

FILE – Adamson’s Jerrick Ahanmisi. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Adamson weathered a late Far Eastern University storm to win, 61-59, Sunday in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Simon Camacho and Jonathan Espeleta forced Monbert Arong to commit a traveling violation in the final three seconds as the Falcons weathered the Tamaraws’ late rally spurred by Raymar Jose.

“We needed this win,”  said Adamson coach Franz Pumaren after the Falcons snapped the Tamaraws’ seven-game winning streak. “At this stage, we’re looking at making it to the playoffs and we needed this type of game.”

Manganti topped Adamson with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while Robbie Manalang got 12 markers on a 2-of-5 shooting from threes. Espeleta had eight points in the win.

The Falcons improved to 6-5, putting them in position to snag the last Final Four seat, while the Tamaraws remain at second with an 8-3 slate.

“Our destiny is in our hands. We just have to take it one game at a time and play great in our last three games,” said Pumaren.

The veteran mentor is hoping to see more of the same in Adamson’s last three games, with UST, NU, and Ateneo left in its schedule.

“The next three games will be tough for us so we have to be used in tough situations like this,” said Pumaren.

Jose poured eight of his 16 points in the fourth as his late rally fell short in the endgame. He also had nine rebounds in the loss.

The scores:

ADAMSON 61 – Manganti 14, Manalang 12, Espeleta 8, Sarr 6, Bernardo 6, Tungcab 5, Ahanmisi 4, Mustre 4, Ochea 2, Camacho 0, Paranada 0, Chua 0, Ng 0.

FEU 59 – Jose 16, Tuffin 8, Arong 7, Inigo 6, Orizu 5, Trinidad 5, Dennison 4, Comboy 3, Roxas 3, Escoto 2, Bayquin 0, Ebona 0, Holmqvist 0, Denila 0.

Quarters: 9-17, 30-32, 46-44, 61-59