The Adamson University Soaring Falcons pulled off crucial baskets in the fourth to upend the Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals, 74-68, and clinched their third win in as many games, Friday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Simon Camacho led the flock with 15 points and nine rebounds, but none bigger than the five-point run he made to put the San Marcelino-based squad up for good with just two minutes left in the game.
Head coach Franz Pumaren rued his players’ mindset entering the match. “We were just lucky we won the game. We made a lot of mental mistakes,” the UAAP champion coach said.
“We cannot afford to play that way, just going through the motion. I think we need to start looking at the bigger picture in order to become successful not only in this league, but also in the coming UAAP,” he added.
Mapua threatened to pull of an upset after Exe Biteng and Cedric Pelayo fired two consecutive threes to put the Intramuros side up at 64-60, with 5:26 left in the contest.
Nonetheless, Pumaren was pleased to see the Falcons buckle down on defense when it mattered. “What I like is how we are winning close games,” he said.
The Falcons (3-0) will battle College of Saint Benilde (1-1) on Sunday, May 14 at 11:15am.
Super senior Andoy Estrella topbilled the Cardinals with 16 points.
Mapua (0-2) will try to take their first win when they face the National University (1-0) later that day at 1:30pm.
The Scores:
AdU (74) – Camacho 15, Ahanmisi 13, Manalang 11, Hill 11, Sarr 9, Pingoy 7, Manganti 2, Ochea 2, Bernardo 2, Paranada 2, Chua 0, Zaldivar 0
MIT (68) – Estrella 16, Biteng 14, Bunag 9, Pelayo 7, Magboo 7, Raflores 4, Gamboa 4, Jimenez 3, Victoria 2, Gabo 2, Nieles 0, Serrano 0, Aguirre 0
Quarterscores: 15-9, 34-31, 58-52, 74-68
