MANILA, Phillippines – University of the East’s Alvin Pasaol set a league record but Adamson got the crucial win.  

And that mattered more for the Soaring Falcons, who hacked out an 85-72 victory over the UE Red Warriors to secure at least a playoff for the twice-to-beat Final Four bonus in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, November 10, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jerrick Ahanmisi led with 23 points off a 4-of-6 clip from beyond the arc as the Falcons strengthened their hold of the No. 2 spot with a 10-3 record. 

The Falcons spoiled the record-breaking game of Pasaol, who set the highest scoring average for a local player after finishing with a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds to go with 3 steals.

Pasaol tallied an average of 24.7 points, shattering the previous record of 22.2 points per game set by Far Eastern University’s Terrence Romeo. 

The UE hotshot reset the record when he hit a triple at the 5:58 mark of the 3rd quarter to get the Red Warriors within one, 49-50. 

Papi Sarr chipped in only 8 points, but grabbed 23 rebounds for Adamson.

The Falcons built on a 65-59 lead at the end of the 3rd quarter to erect their first double-digit lead after Sarr’s and-1 play, 72-61. And from there, the Warriors never recovered from the deficit. 

The Warriors failed to sustain a hot 20-3 start as Adamson’s Jerom Lastimosa stopped the bleeding with a three at the 3:18 mark of the opening frame to ignite the Falcons’ 18-0 comeback. 

The Scores

Adamson 85 – Ahanmisi 23, Manganti 19, Lastimosa 10, Sarr 9, Camacho 7, Catapusan 6, Pingoy 5, Espeleta 4, Zaldivar 2, Mojica 0, Magbuhos 0, Bernardo 0, Colonia 0.

UE 72 – Pasaol 24, Manalang 19, Cullar 12, Bartolome 8, Gallardo 5, Varilla 4, Strait 0, Antiporda 0, Beltran 0, Conner 0, Gagate 0.

Quarters: 21-24, 40-40, 65-59, 85-72.

– Rappler.com