The Adamson University Soaring Falcons came out strong to post a bounce-back win, upending the previously-undefeated University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 58-50, Sunday afternoon at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Soaring Falcons sealed their place in the quarterfinals of the 2017 FilOil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup with a 6-1 record. On the other hand, UP slipped to 3-1 slate.
Robbie Manalang paced the white-shirts with 11 markers, three assists, and four rebounds. Sean Manganti posted 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a block.
It was a highly defensive truce as both teams struggled to find their rhythm in the first half. The Fighting Maroons shot just 10-out-of 29, while the Soaring Falcons did a little better at 36 percent.
UP seized hold of the lead at 29-28 with back-to-back baskets from Cebuanos Jun Manzo and Paul Desiderio at the start of the third quarter.
From there, Jerrick Ahanmisi took over and restored the San Marcelino-based squad’s lead for good in the payoff period.
A triple by Jerie Pingoy doused any comeback from UP with just 1:34 left in the game, 54-47. To make it worse, the Maroons struggled from the free throw line in the last quarter.
“Well, we played better defense,” Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren commented. “What happened to these kids, they showed flashes of what we can do. We can drift away from what we need to do. But of course, it’s still a win for us.”
The Soaring Falcons forced Desiderio and Manzo into isolated positions all throughout, as the Fighting Maroons were only able to dish out two assists in the game. Desiderio shot just 7-for-20 from the field for 17 points.
UP went just 1-for-17 from downtown while shooting just 9-for-16 from the free throw line.
Adamson will face the Far Eastern University (4-0) on Sunday, June 4, at 1:30 pm, but the Maroons will take the first crack at the same team on Wednesday, May 31, at 5:00pm.
The Scores:
Adamson (58) – Manalang 11, Manganti 11, Pingoy 8, Ahanmisi 7, Hill 6, Sarr 5, Camacho 4, Bernardo 2, Zaldivar 2, Paranada 0, Chua 0.
UP (50) – Desiderio 17, Manzo 13, Quattara 4, Webb 4, Lim 4, Gomez De Liano 3, Ricafort 2, Prado 2, Dario 1, Vito 0, Harris 0, Lao 0.
Quarterscores: 16-10, 28-25, 41-38, 58-50
