Falcons soar past Growling Tigers

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson unleashed a backbreaking third-quarter blitz to tame erstwhile unbeaten Santo Tomas, 69-56, and get back on track in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

From a tight first half, the Falcons dealt the Tigers lethal scratches, making them bleed with just seven points in the third period and 17 in the fourth.

In the end, Adamson scored a good bounce-back win from a deflating 52-82 loss to reigning champion La Salle and leaped to 2-1 in a tie with Santo Tomas at third place.

Matthew Montebon scattered 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals while Anthony Fransman and Royce Mantua had 11 points each for the Falcons, who earlier spoiled the coaching debut of Sean Chambers with Far Eastern U, 59-47.

In the nightcap, Kevin Quiambao flirted with a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists as reigning titlist La Salle flexed its muscles against winless Ateneo, 74-61, to claim solo lead at 3-0.

Mike Phillips delivered 13 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and three steals for the Archers, who sent the Eagles to their first 0-3 start since 2013.

La Salle previously beat NU, 78-75, and Adamson, 82-52, living up to its billing as the undisputed favorite in defending the UAAP crown.

“Again, we just stayed disciplined in what we do. We made a lot of mistakes with 22 turnovers and that’s something we have to work on. Ateneo threw a lot of freak defense on us and good thing, we’re able to get our bearings back to get the win,” said La Salle mentor Topex Robinson, whose wards nearly blanked Ateneo in the third quarter, 15-4, to pull away from the tight first half.