MANILA, Philippines – The Adamson Soaring Falcons used a huge third quarter to overpower the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 79-52, and end the first round of the UAAP Season 79 men's basketball tournament on a winning note.
The impressive victory allowed the Soaring Falcons to snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 4-3 at the end of the first round, good for a share of fourth place along with the idle Ateneo Blue Eagles. Adamson has already surpassed their win total from last year, when they managed only three victories.
The Growling Tigers, meanwhile, have now lost three straight games and ended the first round with a 2-5 slate, just ahead of University of the East and University of the Philippines in the team standings.
With Jerrick Ahanmisi firing from beyond the arc and Papi Sarr ruling the paint, the Falcons outscored the Tigers 26-8 in the third period, putting together an impressive display of execution on offense and showing tenacity on defense.
"I think this is a good springboard for us coming to the second round," Adamson coach Franz Pumaren said after the game. "We were totally frustrated the last time around, and I have to give credit to my guys."
"We really made it difficult for them, we frustrated them from the start," he added. "That's what we should be doing – establishing ourselves from the start."
Sarr finished with 16 points, 25 rebounds, and four blocks, while Nicholas Paranada was named Player of the Game after firing a career-high 14 points to go along with four steals. Ahanmisi had 11 points, and Robbie Manalang tallied 10 points and seven assists.
Ahanmisi got the rout started, with his two three-pointers sandwiching a jumper by UST's Reggie Basibas to put Adamson on top, 39-31. Another jumper by Basibas at the 7:06 mark of the frame made it 33-42, but it was the last time that the Tigers would be within striking distance.
Paranada drained a three-pointer that sparked a 14-0 run, capped by a lay-up from Dawn Ochea that made it 56-33 with 1:38 left in the quarter. The Falcons thoroughly frustrated the Growling Tigers, who committed several turnovers and were forced to settle for outside jumpers.
It was not until UST sophomore Marvin Lee drew a foul on Paranada with 1:13 left that the Tigers got on the board again, and by that point Adamson was well in control of the contest. Lao and Lee tried to bring UST back in the fourth quarter, but the Falcons had an answer for every basket with Manalang and Sarr padding Adamson's advantage.
"I don't think anybody expected us to finish above .500 and exceed our won games from last year," said Pumaren of their performance in the first round. "Honestly, I'm quite happy with what we're showing, but you know me – I don't get easily satisfied."
"Hopefully, we can sustain it. The downside now is other teams will start to treat us differently," he added.
Lao led UST with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Lee had 10 points. But team captain Louie Vigil was shut down, scoring only eight points on a woeful 3-of-16 mark from the field. As a team, UST converted only 27% of their shots; they also committed 21 turnovers and at times could barely inbound the basketball against Adamson's pressure defense.
Meanwhile, the Falcons shot 43% from the field and made nine of 21 three-pointers. Though they were out-rebounded 53-43 by the smaller UST team, they made up for it by scoring 21 points off UST's 21 turnovers.
The scores:
ADAMSON 79 – Sarr 16, Paranada 14, Ahanmisi 11, Manalang 10, Espeleta 9, Manganti 7, Ochea 6, Pasturan 4, Bernardo 2, Camacho 0, Mustre 0, Chua 0, Ng 0, Bernardo 0
QUARTER SCORES: 22-19, 33-29, 59-37, 79-52
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