Adamson pounds Letran for 2nd Filoil win

This appears in the Friday, May 20, 2016 edition of the Business Mirror.

Adamson pounds Letran for 2nd Filoil win

by rick olivares pic by steph tumampos

The Adamson Falcons are beginning to hum and find out its winning recipe. The Falcons took down Letran for their second straight Filoil Flying V Premier Cup win, 83-78, with strong performances from the trio of rookie Jerick Ahanmisi, Papi Sarr, and Dawn Ochea.

Ahanmisi was on fire from three point range while the duo of Sarr and Ochea have pounded foes inside. Against Letran, the trio combined for 47 points, accounting for 56% of their team’s scoring output. 

California-born Ahanmisi reciprocated his older brother Maverick’s shooting heroics with the recently crowned PBA Commissioner’s Cup champions, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters by scoring a game high 26 points including five triples.

“I think, at his age, he has more range than his older brother,” said Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren who gave his young player a vote of confidence. “We just need him to bulk up and he will become even better.”

The Knights had to pick their poison in guarding the Falcons. Either double team Adamson’s massive center Papi Sarr down the blocks or guard the perimeter where Ahanmisi and other Adamson shooters were lined up. But the Falcons were too much even with Letran quickly rotating out to the open man. The defensive emphasis on Ahanmisi and Sarr left power forward-center Dawn Ochea to work his magic off the offensive glass.

The frontcourt duo of Sarr and Ochea combined for 21 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists while Adamson’s gunners nailed a collective 10-24 attempts from trifecta country.

With the inside clogged by Sarr and Ochea, that left Letran with no choice but to bombard from the outside. They Knights attempted eight times in the first three periods but threw up 10 attempts in the pay-off quarter while only hitting two.

“I think you have to credit Adamson for their proper spacing,” said fourth year guard Rey Nambatac who paced his team with 18 points. Letran made repeated charges in the fourth period but were largely unable to get points from the inside. "After Ahanmisi, there’s Rob Manalang and Terence Mustre who can hurt you from the outside. And if you allow Sarr and Ochea offensive boards and easy baskets then it is going to be a long  night for you."

In their 90-60 win over Lyceum of the Philippines University last week, the trio amassed 43 points, 47% of Adamson’s output. In their first two matches of the tourney -- losses to La Salle and Ateneo -- the trio was a non-factor.

Adamson evened its Filoil Flying V Premier Cup record to 2-2 while Letran fell to 1-2.