Warriors crush Falcons, tie lead with Tams

University of the East used a sleek running game and a steady outside shooting to smash Adamson, 74-61, and seize a share of the lead in the 66th UAAP basketball tournament at the newly-renovated Blue Eagles gym yesterday.

Paul Artadi fashioned out another double-double job with 12 points and 10 assists as the Warriors made it two in a row to tie the Far Eastern Tamaraws in the early lead.

La Salle also gained a share of the lead as it downed University of the Philippines, 67-58, on a crucial fourth-quarter run fuelled by rookie guard Joseph Casio.

Casio had seven straight points in a stretch that had the Archers breaking away from a tight 50-47 count.

But more than Artadi’s double-double stint, UE coach Boyzie Zamar thought it was the good job of his second unit that spelled the big difference in the contest.

"Si Artadi at si (James) Yap expected mo na gagawa. Kaya ang susi dito ay yung second group namin dahil nag-step up talaga sila," said Zamar.

Ollan Omiping led that second group that delivered the lethal blows on the Falcons in the second half.

Omiping paced the team with 14 points.

The Warriors made a killing from the three-point arc, burying a season-high 12 triples against the Falcons’ seven.

With Artadi leading the charge, UE raced to a 24-12 lead before Yap stepped in to spark a second-quarter offensive that saw the Warriors erect a 44-25 lead at the half.

Twice the Warriors led by 21 points at the start of the third period but Mark Abadia and Patrrick Tiongco triggered an Adamson assault that had the team narrowing the gap to nine, 48-57.

Then came Omiping, firing six of his 14 points in the final canto.