MANILA -- The Adamson University (AdU) Falcons started the second round with a rousing win over a lethargic De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 61-55, during Thursday’s 72nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Falcons went off to a blistering start, leaving the Green Archers biting the dust throughout the game.

Trailing at 5-8, Adamson uncorked a 15-1 run to close out the opening period and take a commanding 20-9 lead.

The lead ballooned to 16 in the third period, 46-30, on Alex Nuyles’ reverse layup at the 2:52 mark.

The Green Archers, who shot an atrocious 26.2 percent from the field, seemed to have been zapped by the 72-76 overtime loss to arch-rival Ateneo last Sunday.

DSLU was even more lethargic inside the arc as it missed 32 of its 41 attempts for a 22 percent clip.

The win snapped an eight-game losing skid of the Falcons to the Green Archers since a 64-62 cliffhanger on July 24, 2004. That 2004 Adamson team was then coached by Luigi Trillo, a DLSU alumnus.

Cebu native Jan Colina scored 14 points while Nuyles and Leo Canuday came through with 10 and nine points, respectively for the Falcons.

AdU left University of the Philippines (1-6) alone at the cellar with their second win in eight games.

“Hindi ako pinatulog ng limang dikit na talo namin sa first round. Natutuwa ako dahil hindi nag-give up ang mga bata. I keep on telling them na kalimutan na nila ang mga lapses namin sa first round at i-redeem nila ngayong second round,” Adamson coach Leo Austria said.

Adamson’s defense limited DLSU’s leading scorer Joshua Webb to his second worst performance of the season.

The grandson of former Senator Freddie Webb only managed three points after exploding for a career-high 26 points against Ateneo last Sunday.

With the win, the Falcons vindicated their 64-63 overtime loss to La Salle last month. By Alder T. Almo

The Scores:

AdU 61 – Colina 14, Nuyles 10, Canuday 9, Avarez 8, Camson 6, Margallo 5, Lozada 5, Galinato 2, Canada 2, Penalosa 0, Cabrera 0, Basilio 0.

DLSU 55 – Mangahas 12, Barua 9, Tolentino 7, Malabes 7, Atkins 5, Co 4, Webb 3, Marata 3, Mendoza 2, Bringas 2, Andrada 1, Villanueva 0, Ferdinand 0, Bagatsing 0.

Quarters: 20-9, 30-23, 48-34, 61-55.