Falcons prey on Cards, enter quarters

MANILA, Philippines- Adamson University whipped up a storm in the second half to bring down Mapua, 66-60, and gain a quarterfinals berth in the 2011 Filoil Flying V Hanes Pre-Season Premier Cup at the Flying V Arena in San Juan yesterday.

The Falcons were behind, 37-40, in the early part of the third before they put their acts together for a decisive 26-10 salvo connecting the final two periods.

Jerico Cruz capped the big comeback with a tough bank shot with 6:48 left, and the Falcons seized a commanding 13-point spread, 63-50.

The Cardinals went on a mini-run, 10-3, to end the game but it was the most they could do.

The win, the Falcons’ sixth straight after dropping the opener, allowed Adamson to lock the No. 2 seed in Group B with a 6-1 slate with one game to go.

‘’Whatever happens, I think second place na kami. I’m happy with our placing,” said Adamson coach Leo Austria.

Ace gunner Alex Nuyles led Adamson with a team-high 16 points along with seven rebounds while Lester Alvarez provided support with 13 markers off the bench. Jan Colina and Eric Camson added 10 apiece.

Allan Mangahas had a game-high 28 points with eight boards in a losing cause for Mapua, who slid to 3-2 in the same group at fourth.

In the first game, University of Santo Tomas got back on the winning column after walloping Lyceum, 65-55.

Kevin Ferrer scored a game-high 17 points, six rebounds and four assists as he filled the void left by star Jeric Teng, who was ejected in the third period after getting two unsportsmanlike fouls, for UST, which climbed to 3-2 in Group A to remain in fourth place.

The Pirates remained winless in six games so far.

In the other game, Alinko Mbah drained a game-winning desperation flip shot with 1.7 seconds remaining to lift University of the Philippines to an exciting, 78-76, win over University of the East.

Mike Silungan once again led UP with 17 points.

The victory allowed the Fighting Maroons to move to 4-2 and grab the third place in Group B while the Red Warriors fell to 3-4 in the same group.

The scores:

First Game seniors

UST 65 – Ferrer 17, Teng 13, Fortuna 11, Abdul 7, Afuang 6, Bautista 4, Aytona 3, Camus 2, Pe 2, Tan 0, Sheriff 0, Lo 0, De Guzman 0

Lyceum 55 – Ko 9, Azores 7, Cayabyab 7, Zamora 6, Napiza 6, Santos 5, Foronda 5, Guevarra 4, Ambohot 2, Pascual 2, Saludo 2, Lacap 0, Laude 0, Anacta 0

Quarterscores: 19-17, 33-27, 46-43, 65-55

Second Game seniors

UP 78 – Silungan 17, Montecastro 11, Gomez 10, Gamboa 6, Maniego 6, Mbah 6, Wong 5, Romero 4, Juruena 4, Weirzba 3, Gingerich 2, Ball 2, Fortu 2

UE 76 – Javier 12, Enguio 11, Sumang 8, Tagarda 8, Zamar 8, Casajeros 6, Sumido 6, Santos 5, Montavio 4, Noble 2, Duran 2, Flores 2, Montelibano 2, Zosa 0, Pujante 0, Razon 0

Quarterscores: 12-17, 38-38, 56-54, 78-76

 Third Game seniors

Adamson 66 – Nuyles 16, Alvarez 13, Colina 10, Camson 10, Cruz 7, Canada 5, Etrone 3, Manyara 2, Brondial 0, Lozada 0, Cabrera 0, Petilos 0, Rios 0

Mapua 60 – Mangahas 28, Taha 11, Nimes 4, Pascual 4, Parala 4, Ighalo 3, Banal 2, Sarangay 2, Chien 2, Stevens 0, Ranises 0, Cantos 0, Magsigay 0

Quarterscores: 15-15, 35-27, 51-43, 66-60