Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Adamson got its act together late to slip past Letran, 83-80, for its first win in the 2018 Chooks-to-Go Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Sean Manganti poured in 20 points, including the marginal freebie to secure the three-point lead with seven seconds left, on top of two rebounds and three assists.
Cameroonian big man Papi Sarr just missed out on a double-double with 13 points and eight boards, while Jerrick Ahanmisi went 3-of-9 from downtown to wind up with 11 points and four assists in the victory.
“It’s hard when you have a lot of new guys coming in,” admitted Adamson coach Franz Pumaren.
“We’re still groping for the right combination and we cannot afford to have a flat start, but we’re learning each game. I guess that’s part of the growing pains of the team.”
Sarr’s jumper gave the Soaring Falcons a four-point breathing room, 82-78, with 14.0 ticks left, before Jeo Ambohot kept the Knights in the game with a layup on the other end.
Down three, JP Calvo misfired on a desperation triple as time expired.
Bong Quinto carried Letran with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists, while Calvo got 17 in the defeat.
The Knights dropped to an even 2-2 slate in Group B.
The scores:
ADAMSON 83 — Manganti 20, Sarr 13, Ahanmisi 11, Magbuhos 8, Lastimosa 7, Catapusan 6, Espeleta 6, Colonia 5, Mojica 5, Bernardo 2, Camacho 0, Macion 0, Orquez 0, Zaldivar 0.
LETRAN 80 — Quinto 24, Calvo 17, Ambohot 12, Balanza 12, Batiller 11, Muyang 4, Agbong 0, Balagasay 0, Banes 0, Celis 0, Pambid 0, Taladua 0, Yu 0.
Quarters: 19-21, 35-42, 59-60, 83-80.