ADAMSON University snapped its five-game losing streak by putting on a defensive masterclass against University of the East, taking a 45-37 victory to revive its UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Final Four hopes on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
AJ Fransman gained the hot hand at the right time for the Soaring Falcons, scoring eight points as the Soaring Falcons launched a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter, taking a 43-32 lead.
The Red Warriors could not recover, with Precious Momowei finally scoring the team’s first basket of the quarter with a layup at the 4:03 mark.
With this victory, Adamson secured its first win of the second round, improving to a 4-7 record and moving up to fifth place, just a game behind fourth place University of Sto. Tomas (5-6).
“Of course, we’re thankful that we won. Akala ko ang ghost month October eh, muntik na kami ma-zero for the month of October so it’s good that we’re able to get the win towards the end of the month,” said Soaring Falcons head coach Nash Racela.
“This is something that we really need. If, I’d say our players were doing their part even with those losses that we had, that five straight losses that we had, pero sa’min namin just continue on doing the right things and eventually you’ll get that win,” he added.
Fransman, a transferee from Enderun, only had a point in the first half but finished with a career-high 14 points, built on three triples, to go along with nine rebounds for Adamson.
Matt Erolon came through with 14 points as well to go along with four assists, while Cedrick Manzano ended with a double-double performance of 12 points and 11 rebounds laced with two steals.
The Soaring Falcons clamped down on UE, holding them to just two field goals and five points in the fourth quarter, including a scoreless stretch in the first six minutes. The win allowed them to avenge their first round loss against the Red Warriors, a heartbreaking 63-62 defeat last October 6.
Adamson will face National University next on November 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Soaring Falcons’ pesky defense held Precious Momowei to just 12 points on a 5-of-13 shooting clip and a total of nine turnovers. He also had 17 rebounds and three steals, while Wello Lingolingo was limited to just five markers.
The 6-foot-9 Nigerian center, who scored all of UE’s five points in the fourth, was averaging 13.22 points per game, while the third-year sniper had per game counts of 9.67 points for the Red Warriors.
Devin Fikes added nine points in the loss, while John Abate had eight markers and five boards.
The Red Warriors’ 37-point output was the lowest since Far Eastern University was held to 39 points in a lopsided loss to National University on September 25, 2019.
This game also marked the lowest combined score (82 points) since National University defeated Adamson, 62-25, (87 points) on July 25, 2014, with the Falcons registering the lowest scoring output in league history.
The Red Warriors remain in third place with a 6-4 record and will aim to bounce back against Far Eastern University on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Scores:
AdU (45) – Erolon 14, Fransman 14, Manzano 12, Montebon 3, Anabo 2, Calisay 0, Ramos 0, Yerro 0, Barasi 0, Mantua 0, Ojarikre 0.
UE (37) – Momowei 12, Fikes 9, Abate 8, Lingolingo 5, Maga 2, Spandonis 1, J. Cruz-Dumont 0, Galang 0, H. Cruz-Dumont 0, Mulingtapang 0, Finney 0, Wilson 0, Malaga 0, Go 0, Robles 0.
Quarterscores: 13-12, 22-19, 33-32, 45-37
