UAAP: Adamson back on track after two straight losses with dumping of NU

Adamson University put its losing skid to bed and dominated National University, 69-58, in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Soaring Falcons, who lost two straight against Far Eastern University and De La Salle, joined Ateneo atop the standings with a 6-2 record.

Adamson cruised to a 25-point lead late in the first half after Papi Sarr socred on a layup for a 42-17 buffer and that proved to be enough for the Soaring Falcons to hold on until the buzzer despite the Bulldogs’ advances.

NU managed to outscore the Falcons 22-12 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to nine, 54-45, entering the fourth but Adamson was immediately able to respond in the final period.

Jerrick Ahanmisi’s elbow jumper capped a 6-0 run to push the Falcons’ lead back to 63-48 lead and restore order.

“Those two games we’re just a minor bump along the way, like a pothole around Metro Manila,” said Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren. “We’re still good, we just have to play consistent basketball.”

Ahanmisi put up a team-high 21 points for the Falcons while Papi Sarr had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Dave Ildefonso carried NU’s offense with 21 points on 8-of-20 shooting and grabbed six rebounds.

With another loss, the Bulldogs stayed at the seventh seed with a 2-6 record.