Pumaren rues Adamson’s mental lapses in collapse vs UP

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren knows his team’s 83-82 overtime loss to University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament was a game the Falcons let slip from their grasps.

The Soaring Falcons appeared on their way to a blowout win after taking a 41-25 lead in the first half, but mental lapses allowed the Fighting Maroons to take the game in the extra frame.

“As you can see it was all mental mistakes and probably they thought the game was already over,” said Pumaren Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena. “That’s one game that’s slipped away from us.”

“But you know, we will learn from this mistake.”

The Fighting Maroons, who scored just seven points in the second quarter to Adamson’s 21, caught fire for 27 points in the third period, outscoring the Soaring Falcons by 18.

Bright Akhuetie capped a crazy sequence by making two free throws with 2.8 seconds left to win it for the Fighting Maroons, who climbed to 2-1 and sent the Falcons to a 2-2 card.

“That’s the price of having a young team, but we will gain from this experience,” said Pumaren.