The Final Four cast for the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Basketball tournament is now complete!
The young Adamson University Soaring Falcons grounded the already-demoralized season-hosts University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, taking a 76-61 win to formalize their entry in the Final Four, Wednesday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The backcourt tandem of Jerrick Ahanmisi and Robbie Manalang paved the way for Adamson. 23-year-old Manalang torched UST with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting while leading Rookie of the Year candidate Ahanmisi added 16 markers as well.
“I think right now, we’re living the dream. My fear that we surprised a lot of basketball fanatics,” first-year Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren. “We were able to fast-track everything.”
After a close first-half, the Soaring Falcons were able to break away in the third canto. And it ironically happened when first-year UST head coach Boy Sablan fielded in his usual starters Louie Vigil, Marvin Lee, Kent Lao, and Renzo Subido.
And the fourth quarter felt like just a formality. The Growling Tigers did not even bother breaking the Falcons’ press while baskets by Ahanmisi, Manalang, Terrence Mustre and Sean Manganti all contributed to a 16-4 run to extende Adamson’s lead to a game-high 72-54 with 1:41 remaining.
“This is just a parcel of our journey and we hope we continue this journey,” Pumaren added.
When the final buzzer sounded, everyone from the Soaring Falcons celebrated on the floor and why not? After five long years the school is now back in the Final Four.
“We were looking at 2017, we just wanted this year to be competitive, but my players wanted to attend that advance party. They were able accept their roles and that’s why were here,” a grateful Pumaren reflected.
Papi Sarr added seven points and 21 rebounds.
Senior Jan Sheriff led UST with 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists in 33 minutes of game time. Kent Lao added 12 points and six boards.
The win gave Adamson its seventh win, eliminating the UP Fighting Maroons (5-8) and the NU Bulldogs (5-8) in the process. Moreover, the Soaring Falcons make the Final Four for the first time since the 74th season of the league.
The Adamson Soaring Falcons (7-5) play their penultimate game of the elimination round on Sunday, November 13, taking on the NU Bulldogs. On the other hand, the UST Growling Tigers (3-10) look to end their season on a high-note as they face the Ateneo Blue Eagles (8-4) on Saturday, November 12.
The Scores:
ADU (76) – Manalang 16, Ahanmisi 16, Manganti 9, Tungcab 8, Sarr 7, Mustre 7, Ochea 6, Espeleta 4, Bernardo 2, Camacho 1, Paranada 0, Chua 0, Ng 0.
UST (61) – Sheriff 13, Lao 12, Basibas 8, Vigil 6, Macasaet 6, Huang 4, Caunan 4, Afoakwah 3, Arana 3, De Guzman 2, Faundo 0, Lee 0, Subido 0.
Quarterscores: 21-19, 37-32, 56-50, 76-61.
