Falcons ready to swoop down on Maroons

ADAMSON University seeks to sustain its sizzling start when it squares off with skidding University of the Philippines in Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament today at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

Riding high on their 3-0 start, which is the best the school had since 2003, the Soaring Falcons are highly favored to beat the Fighting Maroons in their 4 p.m. tussle.

“The only way for us to be successful this year is to continue what we’re doing. We just have to stay within the course, within the system,” said head coach Franz Pumaren.

“No individual player can help us win games. It’s gonna be a team effort for us to beat the other teams,” he added.

Adamson leaned on its bench players as Sean Manganti and Papi Sarr faltered for a 79-71 win against University of Sto. Tomas on Saturday.

While spitfire guard Jerrick Ahanmisi is a proven reliable, Pumaren is expecting Vince Magbuhos, Jonathan Espeleta and Christian Bernardo to step up anew in case Manganti and Sarr are still not in fine form.

UP (1-2), on the other hand, aims to snap out of a two-game slump and pull away from a three-way deadlock at No. 5 with UST and National University.

The Maroons failed to maintain the momentum from their season-opening after suffering back-to-back losses, with the latest a 73-89 beating from Far Eastern University.

Coach Bo Perasol is back after serving a one-game suspension for a disqualifying foul in their 79-89 setback to Ateneo De Manila University last week.

Meanwhile, defending champion Ateneo (2-1) shoots for a third straight win against the hapless University of the East (0-3) in the 2 p.m. curtain raiser.

But veteran mentor Tab Baldwin wants his Blue Eagles to take on the Red Warriors seriously.

“I’m expecting nothing but their (UE) best game. Every single UAAP team that is out there to confront you is giving their best game,” he said.

Baldwin will bank on Thirdy Ravena, Anton Asistio and Ivorian big man Ange Kouame as they look score another win after their 72-46 demolition of NU last Sunday and break free from a tie at No. 2 with FEU and De La Salle University.