Sean Manganti was unstoppable for the Akari-Adamson Soaring Falcons as they clinched a spot in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup playoffs with a 90-71 blowout of the Wangs Basketball-Letran Couriers, Thursday afternoon at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Fil-Am forward was stellar for the Falcons in the game, heating up in the first half before exploding for 10 points in the third quarter as he finished the game with 24 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Manganti’s superb showing allowed Akari-Adamson to pull away from the Couriers after a tight 36-35 halftime affair and establish an 18-point lead, 61-43, at the 1:27 mark of the third frame before stretching the deficit to as high as 23, 84-61 with 3:41 left in the game.
“We really played well,” said coach Franz Pumaren. “That’s what were trying to envision, that we can be aggressive on defense and that’s what we’re preaching.”
The Soaring Falcons join the CEU Scorpions at the top of the ranks at 7-2 after this third straight victory.
Jerrick Ahanmisi also chipped in with 15 markers, five boards, and four dimes, while Cameroonian center Papi Sarr nabbed a double-double in the tune of his 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Akari-Adamson lorded the boards, outrebounding Wangs-Letran, 48-35.
The Couriers saw their three-game winning run halted to drop to 5-3, at joint fifth place with Gamboa-St. Clare.
Rey Publico led Wangs-Letran with 20 points and five rebounds, while Jeo Ambohot had 12 markers and four boards.
The Scores:
Akari-Adamson 90 — Manganti 24, Ahanmisi 15, Sarr 15, Camacho 14, Catapusan 6, Espeleta 5, Macion 4, Mojica 3, Lastimosa 2, Pingoy 2, Zaldivar 0.
Wangs-Letran 71 — Publico 20, Ambohot 12, Quinto 10, Calvo 7, Balanza 6, Muyang 6, Yu 6, Balagasay 2, Mandreza 2, Batiller 0, Taladua 0, Trinidad 0.
Quarterscores: 15-14, 36-35, 66-49, 90-71.
