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| c/o UAAP |
Games on Saturday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum
8 a.m. – FEU-D vs Ateneo (JHS)
10 a.m. – DLSZ vs AdU (JHS)
12 noon – AdU vs Ateneo (Women Stepladder)
3:30 p.m. – UP vs UST (Men Final Four)
6:30 p.m. – DLSU vs AdU (Men Final Four)
Adamson University completed the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Final Four by sending University of the East to the deepest abyss, taking the playoff for the fourth seed, 68-55, on Wednesday evening at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Soaring Falcons achieved the fourth seed by climbing from a 3-7 record to a 6-8 card to force the playoff before this manhandling that brought them back to the Final Four after missing it last season.
Adamson, which won four of its last five games after losing five in a row midway in the eliminations, will face the top-seeded De La Salle University, which holds a twice-to-beat incentive, in the semifinals.
In their two matchups in the elimination round, the Green Archers dominated both, winning 82-52 and 70-45.
No. 2 University of the Philippines and No. 3 University of Santo Tomas clash in the other Final Four pairing. The Fighting Maroons also hold twice-to-beat incentive.
“Sabi ko nga the other day, if we need to go through a playoff every year, we’ll go through it. The beauty about it is we really gave ourselves a chance. The players, more specifically did their part getting here but we still have a job to do,” said Soaring Falcons head coach Nash Racela.
Promising was the start of UE, looking inspired to open the match, racing to a 10-2 lead at the 6:22 mark of the first quarter.
But it all went downhill from there as Adamson courtesy of Matty Erolon, Cedrick Manzano, Manu Anabo, and AJ Fransman racked up 18 unanswered points bridging through the 9:10 mark of the second period to gain control, 20-10.
Then the Falcons needed to just go basket per basket - answering any run that the Warriors tried to erect.
“Sobrang thankful ako sa team namin kasi nalampasan namin itong mga knockout game. Nagtulungan lang talaga kami,” said Manzano, who reserved his best game this season for this knockout match, making 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Mathew Montebon added 13 points, six assists, and three rebounds, while graduating forward Joshua Yerro chipped on seven points and seven rebounds.
Adamson also displayed its trademark defense, limiting UE to just one bench point. They put the clamps on bench sparkplugs Wello Lingolingo (0-of-3 from the field) and Ethan Galang (0-of-7).
With their season almost over, the Red Warriors took one last major hit at the 3:25 mark of the fourth quarter as Precious Momowei and Adamson’s Montebon had a mid-air collision. The Nigerian center laid on the floor in pain for six minutes before getting stretchered out of the court while a neck brace was worn on him.
Jack Cruz-Dumont left it all in his final game for UE with 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Also playing their last game were Galang and Gjerard Wilson.
The Red Warriors’ Final Four drought continued - now standing at 15 years. They were so close to ending that run of futility after a brilliant 5-2 first round record but collapsed hard, going 1-6 in the second including five straight defeats to close the eliminations.
Rainer Maga and John Abate chimed in 10 points each in the defeat while Momowei ended up with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks.
The Scores:
AdU 68 - Manzano 17, Montebon 13, Yerro 7, Mantua 6, Erolon 5, Anabo 5, Fransman 5, Ojarikre 4, Ramos 3, Alexander 3, Barasi 0, Ronzone 0, Dignadice 0, Barcelona 0, Ignacio 0.
UE 55 - J. Cruz-Dumont 15, Maga 10, Momowei 10, Abate 10, Fikes 9, Lingolingo 1, Wilson 0, Galang 0, Mulingtapang 0, Spandonis 0, Go 0.
Quarterscores: 16-10, 39-30, 52-40, 68-55.
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