Adamson University made it even more difficult for the University of Santo Tomas to reach the Final Four, after the Lady Falcons came through with a crucial 75-71 win Sunday in the UAAP Season 78 women’s basketball tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Princess Cochico steered the Lady Falcons with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, as the San Marcelino side ended an eight-game losing streak.
The Lady Falcons improved to 4-8 with the win, tying UP from 6th to 7th. The Tigresses fell to 5-7 in a three-way tie from 3rd to 5th in the team standings with Ateneo and UE.
Neither team led by more than 6 points in the tightly-contested first half, before Adamson began to create distance as Jonalyn Lacson and Jamie Alcoy combined for 10 in a 12-1 run which gave the Lady Falcons a 52-42 advantage late in the third.
Baskets by Maica Cortes and Jyra Brillante cut the deficit later in the fourth quarter to only 62-63, but Cochico and Alcoy knocked down decisive baskets to maintain good cushion at 70-64.
The Tigresses were never able to come closer after that as they suffered a second consecutive setback.
Alcoy and Lacson added 17 and 14 points respectively for Adamson, who won despite shooting a miserable 36% from the free throw line.
Shanda Anies stepped up for UST with 15 points and 11 rebounds. The Tigresses lost main guard Jhenn Angeles to an ankle sprain in the first half.
Scores:
AdU (75) – Cochico 24, Alcoy 17, Lacson 14, Osano 8, Pingol 7, Diaz 4, Tacitac 1, Tabanao 0, Ramillano 0, Generoso 0, Ido 0, Aciro 0, Camacho 0, Araja 0.
UST (71) – Anies 15, Cortes 13, Penaflor 12, Larosa 11, Brillante 9, Magdaluyo 7, Felisarta 2, Capilit 2, Pernia 0, Jerez 0, Angeles 0.
Quarterscores: 18-17, 29-33, 54-49, 75-71.
