Building off their gritty win against the NU Bulldogs, the Adamson University Soaring Falcons scored their most impressive win of the season, picking apart the hapless University of the East Red Warriors in a wire-to-wire 79-60 win, Sunday evening at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
With the win, Adamson have knotted things up with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the standings as both now sport identical 3-2 slates. UE, on the other hand, dropped to 0-5 — second worst in the league.
“This is the first time in the season that we’re above .500. It’s going to be a a brutal week for us, we’ll be playing three games. Tough teams,” said second-year head coach Franz Pumaren.
All sixteen Soaring Falcons were fielded in the game, but it was Papi Sarr who led the way, scoring 15 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Athletic sophomore Sean Manganti added 10 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks off the bench.
“We’ve been working hard for this,” said Manganti.
Adamson’s press floored UE in the early-goings of the contest, as the Soaring Falcons raced to an 11-0 lead to open the game. The Red Warriors could only punch in their first bucket after 4:05 minutes had already passed, after an Alvin Pasaol triple.
Besides the frontline, the backcourt of the Falcons also contributed in the win, as Jerrick Ahanmisi, Robbie Manalang, and Kurt Lojera chipped in eight markers each, with Manalang also dishing out eight dimes.
Outside of Mark Olayon, the Red Warriors hardly mustered any effort to rally back.
Olayon finished with 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting. UE’s supposed ace Alvin Pasaol added 15 points, but shot a disappointing 5-for-19 from the field.
Adamson’s lead would go to as high as 19 points in the final moments of the game, after Sarr scored on a bucket and a free throw by Jerie Pingoy with 24 seconds remaining.
Besides out-rebounding UE, 50-36, Adamson had a whopping 11 steals in the contest.
“Hopefully this can help us in our coming games, especially the game against UP. The last two games will be crucial on our part to end the (first round) above .500,” added Pumaren, who is now 2-1 against his brother Derrick.
Adamson look to break their tie with UP on Wednesday, October 4, at 2:00pm. Later in that game day, UE will face the De La Salle University Green Archers at 4:00pm.
The Scores:
ADU 79 – Sarr 15, Manganti 10, Ahanmisi 8, Manalang 8, Lojera 8, Espeleta 7, Ochea 7, Bernardo 6, Pingoy 4, Mustre 3, Hill 3, Camacho 0, Zaldivar 0, Chua 0, Paranada 0
UE 60 – Olayon 16, Pasaol 15, Bartolome 6, Maloles 6, Varilla 5, Manalang 4, Cullar 2, Acuno 2, Derige 2, Abanto 2, Conner 0, Armenion 0
Quarterscores: 23-11, 41-31, 61-46, 79-60
