Tiger Cubs fall to Baby Falcons via second half collapse
By Francis Marvin de Ungria
The UST Tiger Cubs suffered a blowout defeat to the Adamson Baby Falcons, 64–91, in the UAAP Season 85 high school boys’ basketball tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Sunday afternoon.
The Baby Falcons started out strong as Vince Reyes scored six of Adamson’s first 10 points in the first seven minutes of the opening salvo. Charles Bucsit meanwhile scored five of UST’s first nine points.
After back and forth possessions, Adamson’s interior defense and a 15–3 run gave them the 25–12 lead. Adamson’s Mat Edding also scored seven points in the run.
UST began the second quarter courtesy of James Jumao-as’ six straight points to cut the lead down to six, 31–25. But the Baby Falcons went on a 13–2 run as they extended their lead by 17, 44–27.
Momentum shifted again to UST as they went on a 9–2 run, finishing the first half 46–36 in favor of Adamson.
The start of the third quarter spelled the impending doom for the Tiger Cubs as they went on a four-minute scoring drought, enabling a 9–0 run by Adamson to extend their lead to 17 points once again.
James Jumao-as finally put the Tiger Cubs back on board with an and-one play but the Baby Falcons continued to pile on the score finishing the third quarter with a 20-point lead.
Adamson’s Edding was one assist away from a triple-double posting a stat line of 19 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals.
Tiger Cubs Mark Llemit and Jumao-as scored a combined 32 points, accounting for half of UST’s points.
This defeat leveled UST back with Ateneo as both teams currently have a 2–3 record. Although due to tiebreaker rules, the Tiger Cubs are currently sitting in 5th place.
The University will next face the Pasaol-led FEU Baby Tamaraws on Wednesday, 4:00 p.m., at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Scores:
Adamson — Edding 19, Reyes 16, Rosillo 13, Garcia 10, Medina 8, Bonzalida 7, Culdora 5, Carillo 5, Abayon 4, Sajili 2, Perez 2, De Guzman 0, Tambauan 0, De Jeses 0
UST — Llemit 16, Jumao-as 16, Pangilinan 10, Bucsit 10, Tesocan 6, Naron 4, Esteban 2, Manding 0, Ayon 0, Velasquez 0, Buenaflor 0
Quarter Scoring: 25–15, 46–36, 70–50, 91–64
