Falcons claw Bulldogs, seek No. 2 seed

MANILA, Philippines – Not content with just making the Final Four, streaking Adamson made known its intention to go farther and contend for the No. 2 seeding as well.

The Falcons steamrolled past National U, 77-53, to move up to a tie for third with idle Far Eastern U at 8-5 behind second-running Ateneo (9-4) in the UAAP LXXIX men’s basketball tourney at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

Now on a four-game roll, the San Marcelino-based cagers can force a playoff for the No. 2 and its corresponding win-once semis bonus by taking down the Eagles in their next encounter this Wednesday.

“We need this win because we’re aiming to at least get a tie (for No. 2) and a shot at gaining that twice-to-beat advantage. In the current scenario, we just have to beat Ateneo to create a tie,” said coach Franz Pumaren, who steered AdU to the semis on his first season.

Papi Sarr, determined to make up for a quiet game in AdU’s previous 76-61 disposal of Santo Tomas, banged in 22 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, doing the most damage in the second quarter to spark the Falcons’ breakaway.

“Good job by Papi. The reason we got our rhythm right away was because the big guy dominated,” said Pumaren.

Jonathan Espeleta, who teamed up with Sarr in a game-changing 21-6 exchange in the second canto, added 15 markers plus four assists.

Jayjay Alejandro led the way with 15 for also-ran NU, which finished with 5-9 – its worst record under Eric Altamirano.

Earlier, out to earn the respect of rivals in its last few games, University of the East dished out a solid showing and nipped University of the Philippines, 80-67.

The Red Warriors ripped the game apart in the second quarter to set the tone for the rout that led to their third win in 13 games and assured them of seventh spot regardless of the outcome of their final game.