Garcia fires 26 as Falcons finally win

MANILA, Philippines -- Jerome Garcia fired a career-high 26 points as Adamson broke through with its first win at the expense of slumping University of the Philippines, 73-68, Sunday in the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tourney at the MOA Arena.

Only good for a total of 23 markers in their first six games, Garcia exploded and hit five triples as he sparked the Falcons to a 17-point lead in the first half and helped them quash the Maroons’ uprising in the final canto en route to a 1-6 card after the first round.

"Finally," said AdU coach Mike Fermin after notching his maiden victory.

The Falcons spoiled the 26-point explosion of Paul Desiderio by handing the Maroons’ fifth consecutive loss after a 2-0 start.

There’s more bad news for UP also big man Jerson Prado suffered a dislocated patella during a rebound play at the 3:04 mark of the third.

Fermin said he wasn't surprised with the breakout game of Garcia, a returning player who was in Team B last season.

“It’s about time. Siya ay isa sa players na inaasahan naming pagdating sa scoring. Going into this game, pinaghandaan ni J-Gars; pinush namin siya sa limit and he responded naman. He was bound to have a good game and salamat naman, nangyari ngayon."

Fermin said Adamson felt good things are coming especially after their solid showing in a close 60-64 setback to Far Eastern in their previous outing.

“Maganda ang nilaro namin sa FEU, kinulang lang sa maturity sa endgame. We used that as motivation for this game. Maganda ang pinakita ang team na-sustain namin today,” he said.

Garcia fired 13 of his tally in the second quarter, where the Falcons soared to a 47-28 tear.

But with Desiderio on the firing end, the Maroons unleashed a fierce fightback and managed to wrest the lead, 62-61 with 5:35 left. Garcia nailed his fifth trey at the corner and JD Tingcab cashed in on his freebies in the endgame to secure it for AdU.

“We know UP will make a run, UP is a good team, hindi pushover, they will make a run. Kailangang ma-sustain namin,” Fermin said.

“I told the boys to hold on to one another, tiwala lang sa sistema, gameplan kasi yun an nagwo-work nung first half. Nag-stick naman sila,” he added.

Joseph Nalos and Tungcab added 15 and 13, respectively while Papi Sarr had 15 rebounds and eight markers.

The Scores:

First game:
AdU 73 – J. Garcia 26, Nalos 15, Tungcab 13, Sarr 8, Polican 5, Ochea 4, Margallo 2, Camacho 0, C. Garcia 0, Ng 0, Villanueva 0.

UP 68 – Desiderio 26, Longa 9, Jaboneta 7, Dario 6, Amar 4, Kone 4, Prado 4, Moralde 3, Vito 3, Asilum 2, Harris 0, Juruena 0, Lim 0, Manuel 0.

Quarterscores: 21-14, 47-28, 57-46, 73-68.