MANILA – Adamson University Falcons finished off the University of the East Red Warriors, 68-55, to claim the remaining Final Four seat in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Cedrick Manzano posted a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Matthew Montebon added 13 markers, including two three-point conversions, as the Falcons secured the fourth and final semis seat.
The No. 4 seed Falcons, however, will have a twice-to-win disadvantage over the No. 1 ranked and defending champion De La Salle University Green Archers in the Final Four round on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After going down 2-10 early in the game, the Falcons turned things around with an 18-0 scoring blast behind Montebon, Manzano, and AJ Fransman to take a 20-10 advantage early in the second quarter.
The Falcons maintained the double-digit lead before its reached its largest at 15 points at 58-43 midway through the fourth quarter, but the Red Warriors made their last push to cut the deficit to 48-58.
Adamson, however, responded with consecutive baskets from Montebon to make it a 62-48 lead. UE still managed to cut the deficit to 10 points before Montebon sealed the win with a three-pointer.
“I am grateful that we were able to advance (to the Final Four), we go through a lot of (crucial) games before we reached here, but the beauty of it is we really gave ourselves a chance,” Falcons head coach Nash Racela said after the game.
“The players did their part in reaching here, but the job is not yet done because we will next face La Salle, so pahinga kami agad and hopefully makarecover kami agad,” he added.
Jack Cruz-Dumont played his final game with UE with 15 points, Precious Momowei added a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Reiner Maga and Joh Abate ended with 10 markers apiece./PN
BOX SCORE:
ADAMSON 68 – Manzano 17, Montebon 13, Yerro 7, Mantua 6, Anabo 5, Erolon 5, Fransman 5, Ojarike 4, Ramos 3, Alexander 3, Barasi 0, Barcelona 0, Ignacio 0, Ronzone 0.
UE 55 – 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.
