Jerie Pingoy picked the perfect time to wax hot, as he drained the game-clinching triples in the last two minutes and powered the Akari-Adamson Soaring Falcons to an 89-79 victory over the Batangas-EAC Generals, Thursday afternoon at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Showing that he also can stroke it from the outside, the former UAAP Juniors Most Valuable Player went 6-of-9 from beyond-the-arc, three of which came in the last 2:03 to drop a game-high 23 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and three steals for the Soaring Falcons.
His flurry from downtown broke the 78-all deadlock in the final three minutes, as Akari-Adamson suddenly took the commanding 87-79 advantage with 55.8 seconds on the clock.
“That’s an advantage of Pingoy. He’s willing to take the big shots,” said coach Franz Pumaren, as the Falcons have now won back-to-back games to claim solo second at 6-2.
Jerrick Ahanmisi remained lethal from downtown, as he shot 3-of-6 from threes to wind up with 16 markers and three boards in the win.
Jerom Lastimosa contributed 11 points, while Cameroonian slotman Papi Sarr chipped in 10 markers and six rebounds.
Batangas-EAC showed some grit to surprise Akari-Adamson, as they even took a 63-58 lead midway in the third quarter, before the Soaring Falcons rampaged back and set up the close finish.
Cedric de Joya led the skidding Generals with 15 points and four rebounds, while Jerome Garcia got 13 markers and two boards, as they fell to a 1-7 record.
The Scores:
Akari-Adamson 89 — Pingoy 23, Ahanmisi 16, Lastimosa 10, Sarr 10, Mojica 7, Camacho 6, Espeleta 6, Manganti 6, Catapusan 2, Lojera 2, Macion 0, Zaldivar 0.
Batangas-EAC 79 — De Joya 15, Garcia 13, Ablaza 12, Altamirano 12, Diego 7, E. Mendoza 7, Dela Peña 4, Bautista 2, Maguliano 2, Martin 2, Tampoc 2, J. Mendoza 1, Corilla 0.
Quarterscores: 26-27, 51-47, 66-64, 89-79.
