MANILA – Lenda Douanga got a three-pointer to fall when it mattered the most. Adamson University Falcons escaped National University Bulldogs, 84-83, in overtime in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Trailing 82-84 after a basket by Bulldogs’ Dave Ildefonso with 1.4 seconds to go, Douanga was forced to drain the three ball from top of the key.
Douanga finished the match with double-double 26 points and 19 rebounds while veteran Simon Camacho also had double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.
With the win, the Falcons is now 1-1.
One-and-done rookie Valandre Chauca had 13 points and four rebounds while Jorem Lastimosa and Jerrick Ahanmisi contributed 10 markers apiece. “We needed that win. I guess we’re searching for the right combination and I think that’s the downside of having a young team and having new guys. We’re still searching for our chemistry,” said Falcons head coach Franz Pumaren.
It was back and forth action for both teams until the Bulldogs surged to an eight-point edge but a barrage of triples by Chauca and an inside hit from Douanga forced the overtime at 74-all.
The Bulldogs gained the edge in the extension period on clutch conversions from Ildefonso. The Falcons, however, gained an unlikely basket from Douanga to avoid its second straight loss.
Ildefonso finished the match with 26 points while Senegalese reinforcement Issa Gaye and John Lloyd Clemente added 19 and 11 markers, respectively, as the Bulldogs dropped its season-debut game./PN
