AJ Fransman outscored the entire UST bench, 18-17, to lift the Adamson Soaring Falcons past the Growling Tigers and secure back-to-back wins in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
AJ Fransman picked the perfect moment to shine.
The second-year guard erupted for a season-high 18 points, leading Adamson's bench barrage in a stunning 89-79 upset over UST that gave the Soaring Falcons their first win streak of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
“Para sa akin, ‘yung team effort namin ay nandoon mula first hanggang fourth quarter. Hindi kami bumitaw,” Fransman said in the post-game press conference.
[ALSO READ: Adamson upsets UST to string back-to-back wins in UAAP Season 88]
He finished with 18 points, two more than the entire UST's bench production in perhaps his finest effort of the tournament.
In total, the Soaring Falcons logged 42 markers from their non-starter players with Ray Allen Torres chipping 10.
After a tight first quarter, Adamson seized control in the second, strung together a 16-3 run, and broke a 22-all deadlock to take a 38-25 halftime lead.
From there, the Falcons never looked back, withstanding every surge from the Growling Tigers, who cut the lead to as close as five points but could not sustain the rally.
Cedrick Manzano added 12 points as Adamson improved to 2-4, ending UST’s three-game winning streak.
Skipper Nic Cabañero had 23 points to topscore the Growling Tigers, who failed to score a single point off Adamson's 13 turnovers.
As per official league statistician Pong Ducanes, it marked the first time since 2022 that a team did not not convert any points off their opponents miscues.
Adamson also outrebounded UST, 50-40.
Long time coming
The performance was a long-awaited breakthrough for Fransman, who had scored just 12 points across his previous three games.
AJ Fransman in action for Adamson against UST in the UAAP Season 88 | Photo: The UAAP
This marked only his second double-digit outing of the season, the first since posting 10 points in a 62-59 win over defending champions UP.
“Hiningi lang sakin ng mag coaches na maging consistent and magstart lang lagi ako sa practice,” Fransman added.
With newfound confidence, Adamson heads into round two looking to continue its momentum and chase a third Final Four appearance in four years.
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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