THE Adamson Baby Falcons failed to stop top MVP candidate CJ Cansino from scoring.
But denying Cansino’s three other productive teammates from contributing important baskets allowed the Baby Falcons to frustrate the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, 91-74, yesterday at the Blue Eagle gym in Katipunan, Quezon City.
Two of last year’s bench warmers, Andray Doria and Jose Sabandal, provided leadership for the rookie-laden Baby Falcons, who went on to post their sixth win in 12 matches in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior basketball tournament.
Cansino delivered one of his best games for the season, shooting 32 points and grabbing nine rebounds for the Tiger Cubs, who found their semifinal hopes in trouble after Adamson gained a share of fourth place with them.
Doria showed the way for the Baby Falcons with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Jose Sabandal contributed in 20 points and eight rebounds for the Baby Falcons.
“We had a lackluster first half. We were not consistent. But with collective effort, we tightened up on defense in the second half. We tried to contain Cansino. But he played a good game today, so we took care of the supporting cast,” said Adamson coach Mike Fermin.
Doria and Sabandal, who made 13 and 10 points in the third canto, hit five points apiece during an 11-2 uprising in the start of the third period.
Their efforts saw the Baby Falcons widening a 37-36 halftime spread to 11, 49-38, in the last 7:37.
The Baby Falcons then focused much of their defense on Rhayjun Baquial, Kobe Palencia and Vince Dolendo, with Baquial managing to make six of 10 points in third.
They went on to grab a 61-41 spread in the last 1:21 off Sabandal’s three-point play.
With Palencia making only of two of his seven points in the third, the Baby Falcons hiked their lead at 23, off Didat Hanapi’s charities, 68-45, with 1:50 to go.
Games Wednesday
(at the Blue Eagles gym)
9 a.m. NU vs Adamson
11 a.m. FEU vs UPIS
1 p.m. UE vs Ateneo
3 p.m. UST vs La Salle Zobel