Falcons recover, crush Warriors

Games Saturday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. – AdU vs UST 4 p.m. – NU vs Ateneo

Jerrick Ahanmisi and Sean Manganti took charge as flat-starting Adamson recovered its wits and got the job done over University of the East, 90-76, to nail its second straight victory in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament at the MOA Arena yesterday.

Ahanmisi, hero in the Falcons’ 74-70 upset of the Ateneo Eagles on opening weekend, spearheaded a 17-0 salvo late in the second quarter to break the game open then Manganti dropped 22 of his career-high 27 in the second half to close out the Warriors (0-2), who relied heavily on Alvin Pasaol’s 36-point explosion.

Now in their best start in years at 2-0, the Falcons also found themselves alone at the top after La Salle edged erstwhile co-leader National U in the second match, 80-76.

Justine Baltazar nailed a shotclock-beating corner jumper to break a 76-all count then DLSU forced NU to a five-second inbounds violation and Andrei Caracut provided the insurance baskets from the line as the Archers improved to 1-1 and gave new coach Louie Gonzalez his first win.

“Nothing against UE but we made it a very difficult game for us,” said AdU coach Franz Pumaren, who rued his wards’ apparent complacency in the early goings coming from the reversal versus Ateneo.

“I guess some of the guys thought UE will just roll over and hand us the game. I reminded them that here in the UAAP, last game doesn’t count, records doesn’t count and any given time, any team can outduel the opposing team,” he added.

UE outworked Adamson and led, 28-25, before Ahanmisi (17 markers in all) caught fire from downtown and sparked the turnaround. The Warriors threatened to within six halfway through the third before Manganti led a fiery offensive that put the Falcons way ahead at 67-47.