Adamson Falcons. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
A UAAP Final Four berth may just be within reach for the surprising Adamson Falcons.
“Our destiny is in our hands,” said Adamson coach Franz Pumaren after the Falcons put themselves in a position to snag the last semifinal seat with a 6-5 record.
The Falcons stunned defending champion Far Eastern University, 61-59, in the men’s basketball tournament yesterday at Filoil Flying V Centre.
And Pumaren thinks the Falcons showed the defensive grit the team needed with Simon Camacho and Jonathan Espeleta forcing a traveling violation on FEU’s Monbert Arong in the final 3.8 seconds.
“At this stage, we’re looking at making it to the playoffs and we needed this type of game,” said Pumaren as the Falcons also snapped the Tamaraws’ seven-game winning streak.
Sean Manganti delivered for the Falcons with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Despite the loss, the Tamaraws (8-3) are assured of a Final Four berth along with La Salle (12-1) and Ateneo (7-4).
University of the Philippines fanned its own bid for the last semifinal seat after downing University of Santo Tomas, 74-69, in the second game. Paul Desiderio had 16 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists as the Maroons climbed to fifth at 5-8.