MANILA, Philippines – Adamson University bucked a sluggish start and turned back University of the East UE, 85-72, to move closer to the twice-to-beat incentive in Season 81 UAAP men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Soaring Falcons did not lose their poise after trailing 3-20 early in the game and turned to Sean Manganti and Jerrick Ahanmisi in staging the comeback to stay at No. 2 spot with 10-3 win-loss card.
“I guess, that’s the problem when you have a flat start, thinking the opposing will just roll over,” said Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren.
“We started putting the pressure on them, made some stops and showed the Adamson way of playing defense,” he added.
Ahanmisi led the Soaring Falcons with 23 points while Manganti added 19, 8 came in the final period where Adamson pulled away in the game.
Alvin Pasaol led the Red Warriors with 24 points while Philip Manalang added 19 markers for the Red Warriors, who dropped to 1-12.
After UE erected a 20-3 advantage midway in the first period, Adamson responded with its own 18-0 burst to take a 21-20 lead before the Red Warriors settling for a 24-21 lead.
UE was still in the game and was only trailing 59-65 entering the fourth before Manganti and Ahanmisi joined forces in the final 10 minutes, combining for 15 of the team’s 20 points, to complete the comeback.