Falcons dump Maroons, claim breakthru win

MANILA, Philippines – Jerome Garcia fired a career-high 26 points as Adamson broke through with its first win at the expense of slumping University of the Philippines, 73-68, in the UAAP basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Only good for 23 markers in their first six games, Garcia exploded with five triples as he sparked the Falcons to a 19-point lead in the first half and helped quash the Maroons’ uprising in the final canto en route to a 1-6 card after the first round.

The Falcons spoiled the 26-point explosion of Paul Desiderio and handed the Maroons’ fifth consecutive loss after a 2-0 start. UP also lost  big man Jerson Prado who suffered a dislocated patella (right knee) during a rebound play 3:04 in the third.

Fermin said he wasn’t surprised with the breakout game of Garcia, a returning player who was in Team B last season.

“We really expect him to deliver in scoring.  We pushed him to his limit and he responded. He’s bound to have a good game and it happened today,” said Fermin, adding Adamson gained confidence from their solid showing in a close 60-64 setback to Far Eastern in their previous outing.

Garcia fired 13 of his tally in the second quarter, where the Falcons soared to a 47-28 tear.UP unleashed a fierce fightback and wrested the lead, 62-61 with 5:35 left before Garcia nailed his fifth trey at the corner and JD Tingcab made some charities in the endgame.

“We know UP will make a run, UP is a good team, they’re no pushover, they will make a run. So we need to hold on to one another and stick to the system,” Fermin said.

Joseph Nalos and Tungcab added 15 and 13, respectively, while Papi Sarr had 15 rebounds and eight markers.