Ahanmisi finished with 24 points, including three treys, but Manganti’s big three-pointer with 1:14 remaining proved to be the dagger for the Falcons, who moved up to 8-2, half a game behind top-ranked Ateneo, which has played one more game.
Manganti, who finished with just 10 points on eight shots, also hit the game-winning shot in Adamson’s first round win over UP, which fell into a tie of fifth spot with struggling Far Eastern U at 5-6.
“Down the stretch, we have to rely on key plays. It just shows the quality of our veterans,” said Adamson coach Franz Pumaren. “Despite the run [UP] made, we were able to keep it together.”
University of Santo Tomas took full advantage of UP’s misstep as it pummeled University of the East, 79-68, with Marvin Lee erupting for a career-high 30 points and rookie CJ Cansino coming up with a triple double.
Cansino fired 20 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and issued 10 assists as he became the first rookie to notch a triple double in the league in 15 years.
“We can’t celebrate this win because there’s plenty of work ahead for us,” said Cansino after the Tigers moved into Final Four range with their fourth win in the last five games.
Lee already had 22 points in the first half, nailing seven triples, while Cansino sparked a 16-4 run as the Tigers seized control in the second period.
Alvin Pasaol had 26 points, but he could do little to prevent the Warriors from absorbing their 10th loss in 11 games.