By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Adamson University Falcons avoided elimination by stunning Final Four-bound National University Bulldogs (NU), 68-62, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday night, November 15.
Didat Hanapi top-scored for the Falcons with 13 points. Matthew Montebon added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Cedrick Manzano also contributed 12 points, three rebounds and two blocks.
The Falcons, now with a 6-7 win-loss slate, will need to defeat the University of the East Red Warriors in their final elimination game on Sunday, November 19, to have a chance at the last semifinals seat.
Jake Figueroa’s free throws, with 37 seconds left, narrowed the Bulldogs’ deficit to just four, 60-64.
However, the Falcons successfully wasted 14 seconds before Joshua Yerro made a layup with 22 seconds to go, making it 66-60.
Bulldogs’ Kean Baclaan managed to draw a foul and drain both of his free throws on the other end, but Matt Erolon did the same for the Falcons for the final tally with 17.9 seconds remaining.
“It’s always tough when we face NU. Over the years, the game has always been close. I was surprised when I looked at the stats — we outrebounded them. They’re a great rebounding team, so I was surprised,” Adamson head coach Nash Racela said.
Baclaan finished with 24 points and eight rebounds, while Figueroa chipped in 13 points and five rebounds as the Bulldogs dropped to a 10-3 win-loss slate to a tie with the De La Salle University Green Archers.
Meanwhile, the Green Archers needed a huge fourth quarter to shrug off the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 80-70, and kept their hopes of gaining a twice-to-beat incentive alive.
Pushed to the limit by the Tamaraws until early in the fourth quarter, the Green Archers broke the 64-all deadlock via conversions from Evan Nelle, Raven Cortez, CJ Austria, Francis Escandor, and Kevin Quiambao for a commanding 80-66 lead.
Cortez top-scored with 16 points, with 12 coming in the second half, while Negrense Mark Nonoy had another solid game as he ended up with 15 markers for the Green Archers.
ADAMSON 68 — Hanapi 13, Montebon 12, Manzano 12, Ramos 7, Ojarikre 7, Yerro 6, Erolon 4, Calisay 3, Magbuhos 2, Barasi 2, Colonia 0, Barcelona 0, Anabo 0, Cañete 0.
NU 62 — Baclaan 24, Figueroa 13, Lim 6, Palacielo 5, John 5, Yu 4, Malonzo 2, Manansala 2, Jumamoy 1, Padrones 0.
Quarterscores: 25-17, 40-33, 50-42, 68-62./ASC, WDJ