Manganti game-winner lifts Adamson past UP

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Sean Manganti’s clutch tip-in lifted Adamson over University of the Philippines, 73-71, in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With the scores tied at 71, Jerrick Ahanmisi and Papi Sarr misfired on their game-winner attempts but Manganti was there to grab the offensive board and score the putback with a second left on the clock.

The Falcons tied Far Eastern U at third place with a 4-2 record while the Maroons dropped to 3-3.

UP had one second to either go for the win or shoot for the tie, but Manganti was again on the right spot to tap Jun Manzo’s pass away in the final inbounds play.

Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren breathed a huge sigh of relief after his team struggled to create distance from UP the entire game.

“I guess we were lucky to win the game, the whole game we were struggling, we had a bad start, a flat start, and we made a lot of mental mistakes,” said Pumaren as the Falcons ended the first quarter behind UP, 25-19.

“We were going through the motions and I guess is a good test on our part that in the crucial moments of the game we can survive a game like this.”

Jerrick Ahanmisi had game-high 21 points, 17 alone in the second quarter, on 8-of-11 shooting while Sarr added six points and 16 rebounds.

Paul Desiderio and Manzo had 19 points apiece to lead the Fighting Maroons while Javi Gomez De Liaño missed out on a double-double as he finished with eight points and 14 boards.