Falcons demolish Maroons, claim no. 3 seeding in Final 4

Papi Sarr just had fun after he posted a nine-game high and season’s best 25 points and 17 rebounds.

His big game for the Adamson Falcons came as they blasted the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 86-70, on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Because of this, the Falcons clinched the third seeding in the Final Four semifinals of the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

“We just enjoyed the game today. The system (of play) worked,” said Sarr in leading the Falcons to their third consecutive triumph.

The Falcons, with Jerie Pingoy unloading 15 points, hiked their record with their 9-4 slate for their best showing so far, according to coach Franz Pumaren.

For the 6’6 Sarr, it was his best output since making 19 points in the first round when the Falcons won over the National University Bulldogs.

“We are working hard for this, and for us to get the third seeding,” added Sarr.

Sarr shot eight points in the second period to lead the Falcons to a 39-31 spread.

Pingoy drilled in nine in the third and combined for 23 points with Sarr and Jonathan Espeleta to carry the Falcons to a 69-50 edge.

So far, the Falcons have outdone themselves after finishing season 8-6 slate in fourth place.

“We are ahead by one game going into our last game. It’s an improvement already,” said Pumaren.

Paul Desiderio made 20 points in an emotional game for UP, which dropped to 5-7 in fifth.

So emotional was the game that a UP student was thrown out of the venue during the third,  for throwing stats sheets at the referees and into the court.

BOX SCORES

ADAMSON 86 – Sarr 25, Pingoy 15, Ahanmisi 11, Manalang 10, Espeleta 8, Manganti 5, Ochea 4, Hill 4, Camacho 4, Lojera 0, Mustre 0, Bernardo 0, Paranada 0

UP 70 – Desiderio 20, Manzo 15, Gomez de Liano 10, Vito 6, Lim 4, Dario 3, Jaboneta 3, Webb 3, Ouattara 2, Romero 2, Lao 2, Harris 0, Prado 0

QUARTER SCORES: 18-17, 39-31, 69-50, 86-70