UE repulses Adamson rally to book first win of the season

InterAKTV/Roy Afable

University of the East avoided a huge meltdown late in the game to get away with a 71-66 victory over Adamson in UAAP Season 75 action Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Guard Roi Sumang led the Red Warriors with his 18 points and eight assists, including crucial baskets in the clutch to give UE its first victory of the season in six games.

“Hindi ko ma-explain ang feeling,” UE coach Jerry Codiñera said. “If you’re down 0-5, ang hirap.

“If you’re down (in the standings), lahat ng andun negative na e,” Codiñera said. “It only takes one win to fire up the self esteem nung mga bata.”

After a slow start, UE led by as much as 18 points several times in the third quarter before taking a 52-38 advantage into the fourth period. But Adamson rallied to cut the lead to just three points, 61-58, with just over a minute remaining in the game.

The Falcons, however, missed various chances to trim the deficit further, as forward Roider Cabrera and guard Ar-rouf Julkipil muffed a total of four free throws which could have given them the lead.

UE and Adamson then exchanged baskets in the dying seconds before Sumang scored a layup and sank two free throws with 8.1 seconds left to seal the victory for the Red Warriors.

Cabrera scored 16 points, while center John Brondial pumped in 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Falcons, who slid in the standings with a 1-5 win-loss slate.

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