Cruz, Sewa soar high in Falcons' debut win vs Maroons

MANILA, Philippines – Host Adamson showed that greatness never ends even after the departure of its key players.

The Falcons soared high with their new go-to-guy Jericho Cruz to take the fight out of the UP Fighting Maroons, 79-67, on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena during the opening weekend of the UAAP Season 76.

Cruz set the tone for the rout opening the game with five straight points. 

The second year wingman scattered 19 points to go with six boards and three steals proving that he can fill in the void left by erstwhile Adamson main man Alex Nuyles.

The stellar play of Cruz, however, was matched by the returning UPIS standout Joseph Marata.

In his first game back in the Maroons uniform after playing his first two seasons with the De La Salle Green Archers in the seniors play, Marata waxed hot with a career-high 20 points rallying UP to within seven twice in the game.

But unlike Cruz, Marata did not muster enough support from his younger teammates.

Cruz got plenty of support especially from their Cameroonian big man Ingrid Sewa, who pumped in 11 of his 15 points in a torrid third quarter showing that saw them led by as much as 14, 55-41, on his putback.

The lead ballooned to 17 in the fourth quarter when Cruz broke away from his defender for an unmolested lay-up with 5:28 left.

Sewa completed a double-double with 10 rebounds while Roider Cabrera also rose to the occasion chipping in 11 points off the bench for the Falcons, who also lost old reliable Eric Camson to graduation.

The victory extended Adamson’s mastery of UP to nine games now dating back to 2008.

Marata and sophomore point guard Henry Asilum, who finished with 10 points, combined for 11-of-20 from the field while the rest of the Maroons just went 10-of-38 for an atrocious 26 percent shooting.