UAAP: FEU snaps three-game skid at Adamson's expense

Far Eastern University returned to its winning ways with a 73-66 victory over Adamson University in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After a tight start that saw the teams tied at 11-all at the end of the first quarter, the Tamaraws began to pull away and took a 33-22 lead at halftime.

FEU’s lead continued to increase in the second half, with Kirby Mongcopa putting the Tamaraws ahead, 55-36, with less than three minutes left in the third quarter. Adamson trimmed the deficit to 58-44 by the end of the period before the Falcons attempted to turn things around in the fourth quarter.

Trailing 65-55, the Falcons unleashed a 10-0 run to close the gap with less than three minutes remaining. However, a Janrey Pasaol triple, followed by Jorick Bautista’s free throws after a foul by Mat Edding, widened FEU’s lead again as the Tamaraws held off the Soaring Falcons to secure the victory.

Mongcopa finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and one steal, while rookie Cabs Cabonilas added 11 points, six rebounds, and one steal as the Tamaraws improved to 5-4.

Kenji Cañete led Adamson with 14 points, while Matt Erolon added 13 as the Falcons absorbed their second straight loss and dropped to 4-5.

Scores:

FEU 73 – Mongcopa 13, Cabonilas 11, Pasaol 10, Burgos 10, Bautista 8, Konateh 8, Daa 5, Nakai 3, Felipe 3, Gish 2.

Adamson 66 – Cañete 14, Erolon 13, Jonah 9, Edding 8, Medina 7, Anabo 7, Montebon 4, Torres 2, Tumaneng 2, Perez 0, Mangaron 0, Demisana 0.

Quarters: 11-11, 34-22, 58-44, 73-66.

—JKC, GMA News