THE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and the Adamson Soaring Falcons unveiled new faces as they edged their foes Sunday in the 14th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament at the St. Placid gym of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola, Manila.
Cebuano standout Jun Manzo topscored for 23 points, including two winning charities in the last five seconds to power the Fighting Maroons to an 80-78 victory over the Diliman College Blue Dragons.
Former Adamson high school player Keith Zaldivar made 15 points and transferee Jerie Pingoy, playing his first game after leaving Ateneo, added 12 points in leading the Soaring Falcons in holding off the San Beda-B Red Lions, 65-57.
The Maroons, coached by Rodney Santos, went on to post their third straight win in Group A of the senior division, while the Renren Ritualo-mentored Falcons picked up their third triumph in fourth matches.
Manzo’s basket came after Rob Ricafort connected with a putback that shattered a 76-all deadlock in the last 39 seconds.
The Blue Dragons, coached by Rensy Bajar, drew 20 points from Joseph Brutas and absorbed their third loss in four matches.
Earlier, AJ Madrigal fired 16 points as the Maroons defeated San Beda-B, 66-61.
In other games, the Rich Golden Shower Montessori Center Spartans got 21 points from RJ Lozarito in quashing the San Beda-Mendiola Red Kittens, 89-85, to eke out their third straight victory in Group A of the junior division.
The Arellano University Braves waylaid the Manila Patriotic School Patriots, 71-64, and University of Santo Tomas smothered Makati Gospel College, 148-37, also in the high school section.
The Letran Knights won over Colegio San Agustin-Binan, 95-53, to improve their slate to 2-1 in Group B of the senior side.
Eugene Toba poured in 24 points for San Beda-A, which won over CSA-Binan, 107-73, while San Beda-B thwarted Jose Rizal University, 81-73.