By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
TOURNAMENT favorites Adamson Soaring Falcons and Far Eastern University Tamaraws got their University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 campaigns to a good start after booking big victories in their debut outings on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Adamson got the better of the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles, 74-70, while FEU survived the De La Salle Green Archers, 68-61, in the double-header in Day Two of the new season yesterday.
Displaying a “no backing down” mindset throughout and ability to make one big shot after another down the stretch, the Falcons outlasted the Eagles for their first win of the season off the starting block.
The Adamson-Ateneo contest got off to a competitive start with momentum swinging back-and-forth.
Ateneo got it going early with Anton Asistio and Thirdy Ravena leading before Adamson made a late charge in the first quarter with Sean Manganti at the helm.
When the opening-quarter smoke cleared, the Eagles were holding a two-point cushion, 20-18.
In the second quarter, Ateneo once again jump-started things with another run, outscoring Adamson, 9-0, in the first five minutes to extend its lead to 11 points, 29-18.
But back-to-back triples by the Falcons thrust them to within five points with four minutes to go.
The two teams continued to slug it out after with the score eventually settling at 40-39, with Adamson on top, by the halftime break.
The Falcons continued to hold off the Eagles, 50-46, halfway into the third canto.
Jerrick Ahanmisi and the rest of the Falcons stayed on top of the Eagles after, holding a 55-48 lead with two minutes remaining before settling for a 55-51 advantage entering the final frame.
Adamson opened the fourth canto with four quick points to build a 59-51 lead with eight minutes remaining.
Matt Nieto however would lead a 10-2 blast by the Eagles in the next two minutes to level the count at 61-all.
A shoot-out ensued after between the two squads.
The score stood at 68-67 with two minutes to go and Adamson on top.
Nieto tied the score at 68-all after splitting his free throws at the 1:20 mark.
The Falcons called time out after to set up a play and then saw Ahanmisi give them back the lead, 70-68, with a floater down the lane 11 seconds after.
Ravena tied the knot at 70-all with a putback with a minute to go only for Adamson big man Papi Sarr to answer back, 72-70, with a basket off an offensive rebound with 39 seconds remaining.
Ravena attempted a triple to give Ateneo the lead but it failed to connect.
Ateneo was forced to foul but Manganti converted his free throws with 13 ticks left to make it 74-70 and Adamson held on for the win from there.
Ahanmisi led the Falcons with 23 points with Vince Magbuhos churning out a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Sarr had eight points and nine rebounds for Adamson.
Nieto paced Ateneo with 23 points with Raffy Verano adding 10.
“We really prepared hard against Ateneo and I think we scouted them months and months ago. The coaches really prepared us well,” said Ahanmisi after their win.
Adamson next plays La Salle on Sept. 15 with Ateneo battling the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (1-0) on Sept. 12.
TAMARAWS OVER ARCHERS
Earlier in the day, FEU began its campaign with a big win over tormentor La Salle, standing toe-to-toe with last year’s runner-up.
Struggled early to start the contest, the Tamaraws stood toe-to-toe with last year’s runner-up, showing much balance and resolve.
Trailed La Salle in the opening half, FEU stayed within striking distance in the second half and when it found an opening late in the game it went for it and never looked back on its way to the victory.
Led by Jasper Parker and Hubert Cani, the Tamaraws turned a close fight midway into the fourth frame to a six-point game, 62-56, in their favor with less than two minutes to play.
La Salle tried to fight its way back but could not find the leverage it was looking for as it slumped to the defeat.
Arvin Tolentino led FEU with 13 points followed by Kenneth Tuffin with 11.
Axel Inigo had 10 while Wendell Comboy and Alec Stockton had nine points each for the Tamaraws.
Santi Santillan had a game-high 19 points for La Salle with Aljun Melecio adding 11.
“I liked how the players stuck to our game plan. It was a low scoring game at the half and it actually suited us,” said FEU coach Olsen Racela, whose team defeated La Salle for the first time in three years.
FEU (1-0) next plays on Sept. 12 against University of Santo Tomas (0-1).
