UAAP blowout: Falcons mangle Tigers

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson snapped Santo Tomas’ back-to-back run with an 85-57 drubbing to join a pack of leaders in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball yesterday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

The Falcons only trailed in the early goings of the match, 3-8, before turning the jets on to take a 13-point lead at the turn and cruising to a 28-point win, the most lopsided so far this season.

Matthew Montebon scattered 21 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals in only 23 minutes of play as the boys from San Marcelino joined four other squads atop the standings midway through the first round.

The Growling Tigers came off two straight wins against reigning champion La Salle, 90-85, and the listless University of the East, 98-87, but hit a roadblock to fall to 2-2 instead of gaining a solo lead.

Montebon drew solid coverage from Matty Erolon and Earl Medina with 17 and 11 points, respectively, for the wards of coach Nash Racela, who limited the potent Santo Tomas offense to 57 points from an average of 87.7 in the first three games.

For Racela, that stinging defense was exactly his marching order to his chargers.

“The players did their part. We gave them a game plan and they followed it accordingly. I think that’s the only way we could have a chance in the UAAP. If we really follow it and defend those other teams because if we don’t do our part defensively, any given day they will all score 90, 100,” said Racela.

After a 16-4 run to snatch the driver’s seat at the end of the first, the Soaring Falcons never looked back and seized a 36-23 lead at the half as the Growling Tigers never regained their groove from there.

Adamson also clicked from the rainbow country, converting 11 treys after combining for only 12 in their first two matches, a 56-53 win over host Far Eastern U and a 73-68 loss to Ateneo.

Collins Akowe had a 19-point, 15-rebound double-double haul while Amiel Acido had 11 but other gunners in Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 stalwart Koji Buenaflor, Landyn Jumawan and Mark Llemit misfired for the squad of coach Pido Jarencio.

In the nightcap, Kieffer Alas poured 16 of his 18 points in the second half as Ateneo (3-1) gained a solo lead with a rousing 87-76 comeback win over National U (2-2) off a 17-point deficit.