While a solid offense carried Adamson early, a defensive masterclass help Ray Allen Torres, Earl Medina, and the rest of the Adamsdon Soaring Falcons to finally snap out of a three-game slide.
Adamson came out firing, but it was their lockdown defense that truly carried them past a determined UE squad late in the game.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Adamson stops bleeding, fends off gutsy UE to claim win no. 2 in Season 88]
Ray Allen Torres led the charge with 16 points, steering the San Marcelino-based Soaring Falcons to a convincing 77–62 win that finally halted their three-game slump in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
Earl Medina came off the bench to add 15 points, while Cedrick Manzano, Emmanuel Anabo, and Cade Ronzone combined for 23 markers to back up the Falcons’ balanced effort.
Adamson opened up a 29-16 lead in the opening frame and led by as many as 23 at halftime.
However, the Red Warriors erupted for a 33–12 third-quarter rally, briefly grabbing the upper hand at 58–57 after a Kristoper Lagat fastbreak layup.
Adamson, however, refused to crumble when it mattered most.
Reasserting their defensive grit, the Falcons held UE to just one field goal—a basket from Thirdy Malaga—on a dismal 1-of-13 shooting in the final frame as the Soaring Falcons improved to 2–4 and moved them up to sixth place in the standings.
Call for consistency
For the second straight game, Adamson squandered a double-digit lead, but this time, they managed to finish the job.
Against NU, the Falcons led by 11 midway through the final frame and appeared poised to seal the deal before the Bulldogs clawed back and completed the comeback.
This time, Adamson seemed to have learned its lesson—at least for this game—with a composed and resounding performance.
Still, Medina believes the Soaring Falcons must find consistency in their play moving forward.
“Dapat mas maging consistent kami kasi ‘yung basketball, puro runs ‘yan eh. Throughout the game dapat consistent po talaga sa defense and offense,” he shared.
[Earl Medina provided a solid showing for Adamson against UE to snap a three-game skid | Photo: The UAAP]
As for Torres, he emphasized the importance of unity now that Adamson has snapped its slump and gained momentum.
“Pinaka-kailangan namin is to play together. Nung offseason kaya kami nanalo kasi ganon ‘yung laro, pero medyo absent ‘yun nung first few games namin. Ngayon, makakabwelo na kami kasi naglalaro na kami as a team at priority namin ‘yung team,” Torres bared.
Adamson will next face the FEU Tamaraws to close out their first-round campaign.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.