Adamson’s Jerom Lastimosa vs UE in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Jerom Lastimosa sparked Adamson’s 10 three-pointers to torch University of the East, 82-66, in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Soaring Falcons used a blazing start with Lastimosa joining hands with Keith Zaldivar to sink 5-of-8 beyond the arc for a 32-12 spread that ignited their lopsided win, where they led as much as 34 in the third quarter, 76-42, from Didat Hanapi’s free throws.
Lastimosa unloaded 11 of his team-high 14 points, perfect 2-of-2 from the three-point line in the opening period, and tallied two rebounds, two assists and a block in just 12 minutes and 53 seconds of play. Zaldivar chipped in 11 points from three triples on top of two rebounds and two assists to lead Adamson’s balanced attack.
Lenda Douanga delivered eight points, eight rebounds, one block and an assist. Joem Sabandal and Arthur Calisay also scored eight each, while Joaquin Jaymalin, Joshua Yerro and Cedrick Manzano added seven markers apiece.
Adamson coach Nash Racela earned his first win in his new team, which improved to 1-1, bouncing back from a heartbreaking 69-71 loss to National University last Saturday.
“Of course, we’re very happy getting the first win. The good thing about it is that slowly the things that we emphasized on, we were able to correct some of our lapses last game. It’s a process, as long as we take the right steps towards the right direction, we’ll be good,” Racela said.
Hanapi, last game’s top scorer with 20 points, only played in the second half finishing with four points in eight minutes and 38 seconds of play. Mario Barasi, Ricky Peromingan, Joseph Fuentabella and Ivan Maata also played limited minutes as a disciplinary act by Racela.
“Because of ice cream. We decided not to play. It’s a very simple thing, but yesterday was the birthday of our athletic director Fr. Aldrin Suan and he sent food for dinner with cake and ice cream. Coaches reminded that we have a game early in the next day and it would be better not to eat ice cream but five of our guys still did get a scoop or two,” said Racela.
“It’s partly discipline. We’re teaching them something. The message we always send to our players is to focus on the now. We preach that, so whatever happened in the past, whatever’s ahead of us, what we focus is on the now. It’s nice that we’re able to get that first win.”
UE’s new head coach Jack Santiago, on the other hand, has yet to enter the win column as the Red Warriors dropped to 0-2 after shooting poorly from the field, 27-of-73.
Harvey Pagsanjan led UE with 17 points, eight rebounds and an assist, while Aurin Catacutan had 12 points and four boards in their second straight loss following a 66-71 defeat to La Salle.
“Disappointment,” said Santiago. “Actually the first game against La Salle, even though we lost the game, at least I saw the character that I wanted to see from my players in that game. Coming to this game against Adamson I really don’t know what happened with the team, suddenly, they changed.”
Adamson takes on defending champion Ateneo on Thursday at 10 am, while UE continues to hunt its first win against University of Santo Tomas at 7 pm.
The Scores
ADAMSON 82 — Lastimosa 14, Zaldivar 11, Sabandal 8, Douanga 8, Calisay 8, Jaymalin 7, Yerro 7, Manzano 7, Erolon 5, Hanapi 4, Magbuhos 2, Barasi 1, Colonia 0, Peromingan 0, Fuentebella 0, Maata 0.
UE 66 — Pagsanjan 17, Catacutan 12, N. Paranada 7, Escamis 6, Sawat 5, Lorenzana 4, Abatayo 4, Tulabut 3, Antiporda 2, Beltran 2, Je. Cruz 2, Villanueva 2, Chan 0, K. Paranada 0, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 32-12, 50-32, 76-42, 82-66.