THE ADAMSON Soaring Falcons made their way to the Sweet 16 stage of the 2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) after they blasted the Mapua Cardinals, 88-79, in the Metro Manila qualifiers yesterday at the Arena in San Juan City.
The Falcons pounced on their opponents early on and built leads that went as high as 20 points before hanging on for the crucial win.
Wingman Jericho Cruz led the way with 20 points for Adamson, which also got 16 from Roider Cabrera spiked by four three-pointers.
It was a clash of the group B leaders which came into the game with identical 2-0 (win-loss) records. But it was Adamson that got the early start as it waxed hot from beyond the three-point arc for a 55-35 lead in the first half. The lead remained at 19 heading to the payoff canto but Mapua went on a 9-2 run that got it to within 11, 77-88, after a lay-in by Kenneth Ighalo with 1:29 left.
Mapua regained possession but muffed its chance to come even closer as Ighalo turned the ball over, sealing the win for the Falcons.
Adamson will be facing the winner of the game between the Jose Rizal University and the University of the East in the Sweet 16 today in Tanauan, Batangas.
In the early games, the Centro Escolar University finished off the Philippine Merchant Marine School, 76-73, while St. Clare defeated St. Francis, 60-52. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio