Falcons outlast RP Youth

MANILA, Philippines - Adamson wore down RP Youth U-18 squad, 84-74, while Far Eastern U rallied past St. Benilde, 75-71, in the Filoil Flying V Tanduay First Five Pre-Season Invitational Cup at the Flying V Arena in San Juan yesterday.

The Falcons leaned on a big fourth quarter run to repulse the Nationals, who seized control in the first two quarters only to crack up in the face of the San Marcelino-based squad’s fightback in the last two periods.

Four Falcons wound up with double digit scores with Lester Alvarez and Alex Nuyles leading the attack with 18 and 17 points, respectively.

The win, its third in four games, put Adamson in a tie with FEU and JRU in Group B.

Earlier, Reil Cervantes scored 16 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Tams foiled the   Blazers, who took a 69-59 lead with 4:50 left in the contest.

But Cervantes took over for FEU and led a crippling 14-0 run, capping it with a fastbreak slam that turned the game around for the Tamaraws, 73-69, with 1:43 remaining.

‘’He’s playing really well in this tournament so I gave him the go signal to lead us and he did. I know his capabilities and he showed it today. I hope he sustains it,’’ said FEU coach Glenn Capacio of the 6-foot-4 Cervantes.

The tournament is presented by Mighty Bond Extreme, with major sponsors Total Phils. Corp., San Marino Corned Tuna, Accel, Filoil Gas Company, Flying V and Hanesbrands, the official outfitter.

In the third game, UP overcame a slow start to beat Letran, 78-75, and improve to 3-2.

Rookie Mike Silungan made a split in the closing seconds to shatter the 75-all count and went on to finish with 13 points for the Maroons.

Alinko Mbah topscored for UP with 14 points while Maggie Sison and Joshua Saret tossed 11 points apiece. 

Jam Cortez and Kevin Alas scored 17 points apiece while Jaypee Belencion added 11 points for the Knights, who forced the tie at 75 on an Alas triple but made a couple of miscues at endgame.

In junior play, RP youth mainstays Von Pessumal and Kiefer Ravena combined for 11 points in overtime as Ateneo defeated Jose Rizal U, 79-75.

Pessumal fired 28 points while an ailing Ravena bucked a poor first half performance as he poured in 11 of his 22 points in the second half and in the extra period to help power the Eaglets to their second straight victory.

It was a seesaw game in the first three periods before Bolek Vitangcol came through with back-to-back baskets to give the Eaglets an eight-point cushion, 66-58, with four minutes left in the game.

Meanwhile, Ateneo shoots for its sixth win in seven games as it takes on Emilio Aguinaldo College at resumption of seniors play today.

San Sebastian College and National University collide in the other match at 5 p.m. – Koji Echeminada and Kristina Villanueva