Soaring Falcons target No. 4 against Maroons

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson seeks to sustain its high-flying act, gunning for its fourth straight win in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament against struggling University of the Philippines today at the Filoil Flying V Center.

Soaring to the early solo lead with victories over holder Ateneo, University of the East and University of Santo Tomas, the Falcons look to maintain the trend in the 4 p.m. duel with the Fighting Maroons (1-2), a bunch determined to get out of a two-game slide.

The Blue Eagles (2-1), meanwhile, train their sights on their third consecutive win versus winless University of the East (0-3) in the 1 p.m. opener.  

Bracing for another tough test, Falcons coach Franz Pumaren said his wards should put in the same effort that made them reap success in the first three games.

“After beating the defending champion, I don’t think there’s going to be an easy game for us. Everybody will test us, see if we can handle the pressure...I guess we just have to prepare well, open a can of other things to do for us to survive everybody,” said Pumaren.

The Falcons’ character was tested last time in the UST game, where health issues hounded key players Papi Sarr and Sean Manganti. But their shock troopers, led by Simon Camacho and Krisian Bernardo, proved up to the task and helped the team secure a 79-71 victory.

“If you look at our team, there’s practically no blue chip rookies or outstanding players. We’re successful at this stage because we play as a unit. The only way for us to really be successful this year is to continue what we’re doing, stay within the system as it’s going to take a team effort for us to beat the other teams,” said Pumaren.

The Maroons welcome back coach Bo Perasol, who served his one-game suspension in the squad’s 73-89 setback to Far Eastern last Sunday.