By Ricky Manliguis
SAN JUAN--After
seven brilliant games, Adamson finally got its match.
With Jeffrey Sapinit
and no-nonsense defense in full display, the Baby Tamaraws scored a stunning
75-73 victory over the erstwhile undefeated Baby Falcons in the second game of
UAAP LXXIX junior’s basketball second round at the FilOil-Flying V Centre Jan.14.
The Diliman-based
team nearly squandered an 11-point advantage, yet retained its composure, while
limiting the Baby Falcons to just 18-for-55 field-goal shooting (32.7%) to
improve its record to a 6-2 win-loss card.
Averaging just 7.5
points in the first round and nursing an ankle injury, Sapinit exploded for 24
markers, including 14 in the first half. He then added eight more in the final
period, punctuated by a lay-up for a 67-66 cushion.
Xyrus Torres,
Royce Alforque, and Louell Gonzeles then took turns in extinguishing a late AdU
rally at crunchtime.
Eric Jabel scored
all his 11 points in the second quarter while adding five rebounds and three
assists. Kenji Roman was the third leading scorer with nine points and 11
boards for FEU.
The loss was the
first for Adamson after sweeping the first round, tying the NU Bullpups, which
earlier defeated Ateneo, 78-71, in the first game.
MVP frontrunner Encho Serrano topscored with
24 points and six rebounds, even as Jason Celis had 22 along with five caroms.
The scores:
FEU 75—Sapinit 24, Jabel 11, Roman 9, Alforque 7, Torres 6, Gloria 6, Gonzales 5, Celzo 5, Abarrientos 2, Gabane 0, Bieren 0, Baclay 0.
AdU 73—Serrano 24, Celis 22, Agbong 7, Abadiano 5, Santos 5, Tamayo 3, Antiporda 2, Padrigao 2, Sabandal 2, Flores 1, Beltran 0, Desoyo 0.
Quarterscores: 19-20, 47-38, 59-59, 75-73.Follow him on Twitter: @Teaching_Hero
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