Adamson back on winning track after drubbing UST

Adamson’s Pape Sarr. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Adamson got it going in the second half and whipped University of Santo Tomas, 79-52, Wednesday to end the first round of the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament on a winning note at Mall of Asia Arena.

Papi Sarr was an unstoppable force inside, finishing with 16 points, 25 rebounds and four blocks for the Falcons.

“Basically, I think this is a good springboard for us coming into the second round,” said Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren, whose team held UST to just 27% from the field.

“I guess that even the school got surprised. I don’t think anybody expected us to be above .500 to end the first round and we were already able to break the three wins last year,” Pumaren added. “But we can’t go into the second round feeling satisfied.”

The Falcons broke loose from a tightly-contested first half after outscoring the Growling Tigers, 26-8, in the third quarter.

Everything went well for Adamson in third period that even a Sean Manganti one-hander from beyond-the-arc to beat the shot clock found the bottom of the net and stretched the Falcons lead to 24, 59-35, with under a minute left.

Adamson snapped a two-game losing skid and redeemed themselves from a stunning loss to University of the East last Sunday for a 4-3 slate.

Kent Lao had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Growling Tigers, who wrapped up their campaign in the first round on a four-game tailspin for a lowly 2-5 mark.

Adamson held Louie Vigil scoreless in the last three quarters after scoring eight in the opening period. The UST skipper went 3-of-16 from the field.

The Scores
ADAMSON 79 – Sarr 16, Paranada 14, Ahanmisi 11, Manalang 10, Espeleta 9, Manganti 7, Ochea 6, Pasturan 4, Bernardo 2, Camacho 0, Mustre 0, Chua 0, Ng 0, Bernardo 0
UST 52 – Lao 13, Lee 10, Vigil 8, Sheriff 6, Basibas 4, Faundo 3, Afoakwah 2, Subido 2, Huang 2, Caunan 2, De Guzman 0, Macasaet 0, Tateishi 0
Quarters: 22-19, 33-29, 59-37, 79-52