Rookie Ahanmisi soars in record-setting debut as Adamson trips UP

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Rookie guard Jerrick Ahanmisi, brother to Rain or Shine’s Maverick, exploded for 28 points as the Adamson Soaring Falcons sent back the rallying UP Fighting Maroons, 104-85, in UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday, September 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ahanmisi, who caught fire and made 6-of-7 triples, set the new high for most points scored by a rookie since Imperium started handling UAAP stats in 2003.

Rob Manalang also contributed 16 points, 9 assists, and one steal, while Dawn Ochea had 13 points, 4 rebounds, and two steals. Big man Papi Sarr came up with a double-double of 13 markers plus 11 boards, but he also turned the ball over 6 times.

All but one Falcon fielded in made it to the scoring column as Adamson shot a team total 66% from the field and 68% from long range (13-of-19).

Adamson, which claimed its first win in emphatic fashion during Franz Pumaren’s UAAP comeback as head coach, displayed a renewed vigor as they padded double-digit leads onto UP but at the same time showed grit and character when the Maroons came charging right back.

Pumaren expressed his worries prior to the game about his players experiencing jitters, describing the Falcons as a young team with most guys playing limited minutes last season.

“They had so many mental mistakes. It’s not more on the physical aspect but more on the mental mistakes,” he said. “But we’ll take this win.”

The Falcons led by as much as 19 points in the third before the Maroons inched to within 83-77 with 4:22 to go and Adamson pulled away again for good.

Paul Desiderio led UP’s fourth quarter comeback attempt to finish with 24 points, 6 rebounds, and two assists.

Graduating Jett Manuel had 15 points, while Christian Moralde and Henry Asilum had 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Maroons, who also fought back from a double-digit deficit in the first half but never tasted the lead in this game. – Rappler.com