Adamson-UP knockout game a box office hit

Three years ago, the games of the Adamson University Soaring Falcons and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons struggled to attract crowds.

But the once-championship sa ilalim is now the must-watch game of the season.

Wednesday afternoon, the Adamsonians and Iskos have packed the historic SMART Araneta Coliseum, trying to will their teams to end their decades-long Finals droughts.

Even if the tickets available online and inside their respective campuses were already sold out by Monday evening, fans trying to their luck to get a glimpse of history trooped to the venue as early as 8:00am. The only tickets available for them were SRO (Standing room only).

A total of 20,944 fans packed the building — the most this year for any collegiate sporting event.

The Fighting Maroons are looking to end a 32-year Finals drought, while the Soaring Falcons hope to make it to the final dance after 26 years.

The winner takes on the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the best-of-three finals series starting on Saturday.