The Adamson University Soaring Falcons finally notched their first win under new head coach Franz Pumaren in a 30-point pounding of the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates, 90-60, Friday afternoon at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Cameroonian student-athlete Pape Sarr led the Soaring Falcons with a 22-point, ten rebound outing. Rookie Filipino-American Jerrick Ahanmisi added 13 markers, nine coming from long distance, in the game.
“If you look at the game against La Salle, Sarr sat at the bench for the entire second half. The way we look at Pape is he started late,” said Pumaren said his FSA.
“He developed some bad habits while my assistant coaches are teaching him the fundamentals and make him stronger.”
Ahanmisi scored all of his 13 points in the opening half, while Nicholas Paranada and sophomore JD Tungcab combined for 15 first half points to help give Adamson a 40-34 lead at halftime.
The game though turned into a blowout come the third frame, as the Pirates were limited to just nine third quarter points, majority coming from Joseph Gabayni. Sarr also scored 16 points in the quarter to give Adamson a 68-43 lead entering the final quarter.
“We’re still a work in progress. We’re just fortunate that the import of the other team is not around,” Pumaren added about the game. “Bottom line is we just pounded them inside and we worked hard on defense. What we’re looking at right now is the consistency to play constant defense.”
The pressure defense of the Falcons only allowed six points in the first six minutes of the final frame while, on the other end, the troika of Dawn Ochea, Cristian Garcia, and Khristian Bernardo helped extend the Adamson lead to a game-high 36 points, 85-49, with 2:51 remaining. Late baskets by Lyceum’s Wilson Baltazar closed out the 30-point blowout.
“We’re still in the learning process and, hopefully, everyone has adjusted when the UAAP comes around,” Pumaren closed.
Wilson Baltazar led the Pirates with 17 markers and three steals. Shaq Alanes was the only other Pirate in double-digits with 12 markers. However, as a team, the Topex Robinson-mentored squad shot a poor 31 percent from the field compared to a strong 52 percent by their opponents.
The Adamson Soaring Falcons (B, 1-2) look to build a streak as they face the Letran Knights on Thursday, May 19 at 1:30pm. On the other hand, the Lyceum Pirates (B, 1-3) have the San Beda Red Lions next on their slate on Friday, May 20 at 5:00pm.
The Scores:
ADU (90) – Sarr 22, Ahanmisi 13, Paranada 10, Tungcab 9, Ochea 8, Mustre 6, Manalang 5, Garcia 5, Pasturan 5, Bernardo 4, Manganti 3, Ng 0, Camacho 0, Miranda 0, Cadua 0.
LPU (60) – Baltazar 17, Alanes 12, Gabayni 8, Zamora 6, Ayaay 4, Soliman 4, Bulawan 2, Caduyac 2, Alban 2, Marata 2, Malabanan 1, Serafica 0.
Quarterscores: 18-18, 40-34, 68-43, 90-60.
