Adamson pummels UP, gains Final Four spot

(Falcons center Papi Sarr attempting a shot. Photo by Marlo Cueto/ spin.ph)

The Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons bamboozled the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 86-70, in the Season 80 men’s basketball tournament of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday.

The Falcons used a big third canto to broke the game wide open with Jerie Pingoy, Papi Sarr and Robbie Manalang combining for 23 of their 30 points, while limiting the Maroons to just 19 points.

The Diliman-based squad unleashed a furious run at the start of the final frame to close the gap to just eight points but Adamson did just enough to avoid squandering the lead.

With the W, AdU clinched the third spot and will face the second seed come playoffs time.

Sarr delivered his best game of the season with 25 points and 17 rebounds for the Falcons. Floor general Jerie Pingoy had 15 markers, eight dimes, six steals and no turnovers.

Fighting Maroons starters Paul Desiderio, Jun Manzo and Javi Gomez de Liano combined for 45 of the 70 UP points.

Adamson improved to 9-4, while UP fell to the fifth spot with a 5-7 record.

The Fighting Maroons will next face the league-leading ADMU Blue Eagles on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Big Dome. The Soaring Falcons will wrap up the eliminations against the FEU Tamaraws on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the same venue.