Mark Esperanza and Earl Medina delivered in the clutch, propelling defending champion Adamson University to a 70-66 victory over Far Eastern University-Diliman in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Tournament on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
With just two game days left in the elimination round, the Baby Falcons tightened their grip on fourth place, strengthening their bid for a Final Four spot.
Adamson secured its third straight win, improving to 7-5 and extending its lead over De La Salle Zobel and the University of the East, both of whom are now three games behind.
The win also ensured a do-or-die clash between DLSZ and UE, which was ongoing at the time of publication. The losing team between the Junior Warriors and the Junior Archers will be officially eliminated from Final Four contention.
“We’re looking at our own backyard ‘eh. Kung ano yung kaya namin i-control, doon kami, which is our games,” said Baby Falcons head coach Mike Fermin.
He added, “At least, yes, may cushion na kami. Whoever wins sa UE and Zobel, magkakaroon kami ng two-game cushion, ‘eh may two games pa natitira. So we cannot relax.”
Adamson held a 59-50 lead with 8:43 left in the fourth quarter, but FEU-D mounted a furious 12-3 run to tie the game at 62-all with 3:15 remaining.
Two straight layups from CJ Umali and Sanir Sajili put the Baby Falcons ahead, 66-62, but MVP frontrunner Cabs Cabonilas responded with a reverse layup and a baseline jumper, knotting the game at 66 with 54 seconds left.
In the final stretch, Adamson displayed its championship composure. Esperanza nailed a clutch pull-up jumper, and Medina converted an alley-oop to give the Baby Falcons a 70-66 cushion, sealing the much-needed win.
“It’s a big win for us. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, the last three games, they should treat it as a championship game. There’s no more tomorrow. May game plan kami laging sinusunod at iniiba every game because we’re being scouted. Hats off sa players kasi they were able to execute it,” Fermin added.
Esperanza led Adamson with 19 points, six assists, and four rebounds, while Medina added 18 points (14 in the first half), eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal.
Six-foot-six center Allen Perez contributed 10 points, three assists, two rebounds, and one steal but struggled with five turnovers. Umali chipped in seven points, six assists, and four rebounds.
The loss snapped the Baby Tamaraws’ three-game winning streak, dropping them to 8-4 and keeping them in third place.
They are now two games behind the second-seeded University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs (9-2), who were set to face the winless UPIS Fighting Maroons later in the day.
Despite shooting 9-of-20 from the field, Cabonilas still notched a double-double with 19 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, three steals, and two blocks in the losing effort. Mico Pascual added 14 points, two blocks, one rebound, and one assist.
Marc Burgos tallied nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one block, while Liam Salangsang also scored nine points, adding six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the other game, National University Nazareth School remained undefeated through 12 games after overpowering also-ran Ateneo de Manila University, 87-71.
Aiming for their first elimination round sweep since Season 82 in 2019, the Bullpups — who have already clinched a playoff incentive — will now turn their focus to their final games against UPIS and UST.
“We played bad noong first half ‘eh. We look at it positively, pero at least may two games pa kami to redeem ourselves kasi yung identity namin, talagang sa depensa ‘eh,” said Bullpups head coach Kevin de Castro.
“At least, ngayon, natututo kami at nagising kami na malayo pa rin kami. Hindi pa rin kami totally satisfied hangga’t makuha namin yung goal namin,” he admitted.
Ateneo, behind Chris Urbina, Alfonso Tan, and Lans Lagdamen, trimmed the deficit to three, 55-52, in the third quarter. However, Roje Matias, Chad Cartel, and Best FSA frontrunner Collins Akowe sparked a Bullpups run to restore a 66-58 lead entering the final period.
The Blue Eagles stayed within striking distance as Urbina hit a triple to cut the lead to 74-66 with 6:32 left, but Akowe, Migs Palanca, and Mac Alfanta put the game out of reach, leading NUNS to their 12th straight win.
Akowe recorded his 12th double-double in as many games, finishing with 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting, 17 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Alfanta added 16 points, four assists, and one rebound.
Palanca also delivered with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, along with eight rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Jid Locsin chipped in six points, six assists, four rebounds, and one steal.
Ateneo suffered its second consecutive loss, dropping to seventh place with a 2-10 record.
Urbina had 19 points, four assists, two rebounds, and one steal, while Tan contributed 17 points, three rebounds, and three assists.
Jay-M Leal struggled from the field, scoring just nine points on 3-of-10 shooting, but still managed three rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Ziv Espinas added five points and eight rebounds.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the girls’ division, National University Nazareth School showcased its dominance, demolishing Ateneo, 141-40.
Already assured of a Finals berth following UST’s victory over De La Salle Zobel last Sunday, the Lady Bullpups showed no signs of complacency. They secured their fourth win in five games while keeping Ateneo winless at 0-5.
Riding a two-game winning streak, NUNS carries significant momentum into a Finals preview against undefeated UST on Thursday, March 6.
Their 101-point rout is now the second-largest winning margin in UAAP girls’ basketball history, surpassing De La Salle Zobel’s 99-point blowout (115-16) against Ateneo on February 9.
“We just wanted to play strong today because this game will set the tone for our next game against UST, the unbeaten team right now. ‘Yon lang gusto namin, to just give confidence sa mga bata,” said Lady Bullpups head coach Camilla Escoto.
“In terms of depth, ‘yon ang gusto ko kasi gusto ko balanse kami na whoever gets into the court, makakapag-contribute. Importante ‘yon if we want to solve the UST puzzle,” she added.
NUNS wasted no time asserting its dominance, racing to a staggering 46-0 lead in the opening period before extending it to 74-7 at halftime. Ateneo’s only points in the first half came from a layup by Tyler Templo, a three-pointer from Virlene Gozum, and a midrange jumper by Cesca Pangilinan.
Ashlyn Abong led NUNS with 27 points on 13-of-15 shooting, 13 rebounds, and three assists, while MVP frontrunner Zaydhen Rosano added 19 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals.
Ateneo, led by Templo’s 20 points, will try to end its season on a high note against La Salle Zobel on Sunday.
The Scores:
First Game (Girls):
NUNS (141) – Abong 27, Rosano 19, Mallari 17, Lapasaran 16, Trinidad 12, Sales 11, Singson 8, Badajos 8, Aycardo 7, Pascua 6, Katigbak 6, Avila 4.
Ateneo (40) – Templo 20, Exconde 8 , Lo 3, Gozum 3, Cacanindin 2, Pangilinan 2, Bacayo 2, Linaza 0, Bernardo 0, Lee 0, Burdeos 0, Doque 0.
Quarterscores: 46-0, 74-7, 107-23, 141-40.
Second Game (Boys)
AdU (70) – Esperanza 19, Medina 18, Perez 10, Umali 7, Sajili 6, Decatoria 4, Murillo 2, De Jesus 2, Tumaneng 2.
FEU-D (66) – Cabonilas 19, Pascual 14, Burgos 9, Salangsang 9, Esperanza 5, Raneses 3, Godoy 3, Gemao 2, Hall 2, De Guzman 0, Castillejos 0, Santos 0.
Quarterscores: 24-22, 36-37, 55-50, 70-66.
Third Game (Boys)
NUNS (87) – Akowe 29, Alfanta 16, Palanca 15, Locsin 6, Naitnga 6, Cartel 5, Matias 5, Napa 3, Figueroa 2, Solomon 0, Nepacena 0, Usop 0.
Ateneo (71) – Urbina 19, Tan 17, Leal 9, Lagdamen 7, Espinas 5, Lacsamana 4, Gatmaitan 3, Asistio 3, Delos Santos 2, Kallos 2, Ymasa 0, Reyes 0, Trinidad 0.
Quarterscores: 28-16, 46-41, 66-58, 87-71.
