Falcons strengthen grip of 3rd spot, rout Bulldogs

FILE – Adamson guard Jerrick Ahanmisi. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Adamson University tightened its hold of the third spot after scoring a commanding 90-77 win over National University in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Soaring Falcons picked up their second straight win and improved to 8-4 while the Bulldogs are at solo sixth with a 4-7 record after missing a chance to tie Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines for the fourth spot.

After trailing 72-48 heading into the fourth, the Bulldogs managed to cut the deficit to nine, 79-70, with J-Jay Alejandro capping off a 22-7 run with a three-pointer 2:57 left in the game.

The Falcons, though, kept its composure and answered back to take a 13-point lead, 85-72, after Jerrick Ahanmisi drilled a long two-pointer with 1:52 left.

Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren, though, wasn’t happy with the way his team handled the lead late into the game.

“We’re not that good of a team to relax, we got that lead because we played the way we we’re supposed to do,” said Pumaren.

“When we let our egos get involved, that [blown lead] could happen, we’re just lucky we were up 20-plus points at the start of the fourth.”

Ahanmisi and Jonathan Espeleta led Adamson with 16 points apiece while Papi Sarr had a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double. 

Alejandro led the Bulldogs with 18 points and 10 rebounds while Rev Diputado added 14 points.