Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of the Philippines needed just 22 seconds to take a victory lap all the way to the third seed in the standings of the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament.
With 22 seconds remaining in the game and the game tied at 71-71, all the Fighting Maroons had to do was get a defensive stop.
Adamson, however, didn’t had other plans when Sean Manganti lifted the Soaring Falcons to the third spot scoring the game-winner for the 73-71 Falcon win.
As Manganti’s game-winner sank through the net, so did the hearts of the Maroons who slipped to 3-3 and the fifth seed.
Maroons head coach Bo Perasol, however, was still proud of his team even though they left Smart Araneta Coliseum after a disappointing loss.
“I can’t ask for more. We just have to pick up the good things about the game and find a way to get another win so that we get to four wins,” said Perasol Wednesday. “I think the good thing about this is the boys really wanted to bounce back, and that I can give them.”
After suffering a brutal loss to Far Eastern University, 78-59, the Maroons were looking to rebound strong against the Falcons.
“I was really hoping for a bounce back game, but most of the time you cannot guarantee a win even though you really bounced back well,” said Perasol.
Paul Desiderio could’ve been the hero for the Maroons when he tied the scores at 71-71 with 22 seconds left of the game but Manganti was in the right place at the right time to become Adamson’s savior.
And as heartbreaking as their close loss was, Perasol are still staying positive as they try to finish the first round on a winning record.
“If we can finish the first round at 4-3 and when was the last time UP finished at 4-3?” said Perasol. “That’s the positive that I see. They’re going to believe we’re getting to 4-3.”