Adamson at cusp of postseason action

c/o UAAP

Games on Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion

8 a.m. - NUNS vs UE (JHS)

10 a.m. - FEU vs UE (Women)

12 p.m. - FEU vs UE (Men)

3:30 p.m. - UP vs NU (Men)

6:30 p.m. - UP vs NU (Women)

ADAMSON University cruised past University of the East, 66-48, for its third straight win in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

With their third consecutive win, the Lady Falcons solidified their hold on third place with an 8-3 record, comfortably distancing themselves from the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the UP Fighting Maroons, who are at 5-5 and 3-6, respectively.

If UP falls to Ateneo later today, Adamson will clinch its first Final Four berth since Season 82 in 2019, when it finished as the third-seeded team with a 9-5 record before bowing out to FEU in the stepladder semifinals.

However, should UP pull off an upset, Adamson will need a win against the NU Lady Bulldogs in their next game to secure a spot.

“The school will remember you with the legacy you are going to leave. They care about who you are, but it’s about the legacy you’re gonna leave when you leave Adamson,” Adamson head coach Ryan Monteclaro said. “I know 10 years from now or 15 years from now, they’re gonna look at themselves na we made it despite going to the season ranked seventh or eighth.”

Elaine Etang, Kim Limbago, Cris Padilla, and Cheska Apag led a decisive 14-6 run in the third quarter, turning a narrow 35-31 lead into a 49-37 advantage heading into the final period. Malienne center Kamba Kone was the only scorer for UE during that stretch.

In the fourth quarter, Padilla’s late three-pointers extended Adamson’s lead to a game-high 19 points, sealing their third consecutive win and matching their 63-51 first-round victory over UE on October 6.

“To be honest, I’m not really impressed with how we played today. For a team trying to get to that level, you always try to challenge your team. I’m not taking away the fact that UE has a good program, but again, we are looking for the position to get into the Final Four,” Monteclaro added.

Padilla, the inaugural UAAP girls’ basketball MVP, enjoyed her best outing of the season with 17 points on 4-of-7 from beyond the arc to go along with three steals, two rebounds, and two assists. Etang had another all-around statline with 12 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and one steal.

Apag also had an efficient outing with nine points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while Kem Adeshina chipped in seven points, seven rebounds, three steals, and one assist.

Adamson’s next challenge is against the undefeated National University on Sunday, November 10, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Kone’s double-double efforts of 18 points and 11 rebounds went for naught as the Lady Warriors’ struggles continued after absorbing its sixth straight loss to remain at last place in the eight-team league with a 1-9 card.

Ganade scored 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting to go along with eight assists, four steals, and two rebounds, but committed 10 turnovers, while Lacayanga nearly tallied a double-double with eight points, nine rebounds, two steals, and one assist.

UE aims to end a six-game skid against Far Eastern University on Sunday, Nov. 3, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Scores:

AdU (66) – Padilla 17, Etang 12, Apag 9, Adeshina 7, E. Alaba 5, Limbago 5, Ornopia 4, Mazo 3, Meniano 2, Agojo 2, Bajo 0, Manlimos 0, A. Alaba 0, Cortez 0, Delos Santos 0, Trabado 0.

UE (48) – Kone 18, Ganade 10, Lacayanga 8, Vacalares 4, Lumibao 4, Buscar 2, Yanez 2, Guillim 0, Cruz 0, Ronquillo 0.

Quarterscores: 19-8, 31-24, 49-37, 66-48