Adamson University overcame already eliminated University of the East, 85-72, to fortify its hold of the second spot in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Soaring Falcons overcame a weird start after they got bamboozled by the Red Warriors and fell behind 20-3 before going back and ending the period down by just three, 24-21.
Playing with nothing to lose, UE continued to make things interesting for the playoff-bound Adamson, regaining control of the match, 59-53, with 3:34 left in the period
But the Falcons soared with a 12-0 run to take a 65-59 lead Keith Zaldivar’s free throws and never looked back despite UE’s advances.
Adamson closed in on the twice-to-beat incentive as it improved 10-3 record with a game left in its elimination round schedule.
“That’s the problem when sometimes you have a flat start thinking that the opposing team will just roll over, and it was a difficult scenario because UE was aggressive and was enjoying the game,” said Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren. “Good thing we were able to regroup and I gave them sweet nothings at halftime.”
The Soaring Falcons were able to keep their ground into the fourth quarter building an 85-70 lead after Jerrick Ahanmisi’s three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining in the game.
Adamson can clinch a twice-to-beat advantage if league leader Ateneo (10-2) beats third seed De La Salle (8-4) on Sunday.
Ahanmisi put up a team-high 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting for the Falcons while Sean Manganti added 19 points.
Papi Sarr, after tallying just five rebounds in Adamson’s previous game, did the dirty work with nine points and 24 rebounds.
Alvin Pasaol led the 1-12 Red Warriors with 24 points and 10 rebounds while Philip Manalang had 19 points.