Adamson University vented its frustrations against an Ateneo de Manila University side playing without head coach Louie Alas, scoring a 62-55 victory to snap its four-game skid and revive its Final Four aspirations in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
A major factor in the Soaring Falcons’ victory was the return of Nigerian center Precious Jonah, who missed their last two games due to a right leg injury.
Jonah delivered 11 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals to lead Adamson to a 5-7 record, pulling the team into a tie with Ateneo for sixth place. Far Eastern University and De La Salle University, which are tied for third, remain just one and a half games ahead at 6-5.
The victory was a much-needed bounce-back for the Soaring Falcons, who suffered a shocking loss to the winless University of the East Red Warriors last Saturday.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“‘Yung team namin has this tendency to sleep regardless of whether we were coming off a good game or a bad game. I’m sure they felt the UE loss. It was really a hard loss,” said Soaring Falcons head coach Nash Racela.
“Mahirap din, and when we lost our fourth straight game, that’s what I asked them: ‘Gusto niyo pa ba? Gusto niyo ba to have that in you para manalo?’ That was a little bit of a challenge for them, and nag-usap naman sila. Today, they deserved this win; they worked for it,” he added.
Holding a slim 28-25 advantage after a defensive battle in the first half, Adamson found its offensive rhythm in the third quarter, outscoring Ateneo 19-11 to build a 47-36 lead heading into the payoff period.
The Blue Eagles, however, mounted a comeback in the fourth as Shawn Tuano and Sultan Baruwa teamed up for a 10-4 run to cut their deficit to five, 51-46, with 6:44 remaining.
Jonah then knocked down a backbreaking triple—his first three-pointer of the season—to restore Adamson’s cushion before EJ Kapihe answered with a basket to trim Ateneo’s deficit to six, 54-48.
Manu Anabo then delivered the biggest blow, converting a shot-clock-beating four-point play with 3:45 left to stretch the Soaring Falcons’ lead to 10, 58-48, a cushion they maintained until the final buzzer.
Anabo finished with nine points and five rebounds, while Kenji Cañete and Matt Erolon chipped in eight points apiece for Adamson.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Tuano led Ateneo with 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals as the Blue Eagles absorbed their third consecutive defeat.
Kieffer Alas added nine points, six rebounds, and four assists but struggled from the field, shooting just 3-of-13. Backcourt partner Jared Bahay also had a difficult outing, finishing with three points, five rebounds, and three assists on 1-of-13 shooting.
Assistant coach RJ Jazul called the shots for the Blue Eagles as Alas served the first game of his two-game suspension.
Crucial matchups with significant implications in the Final Four race await both teams on Sunday, still at the Big Dome.
Adamson will face De La Salle at 2:30 p.m., while Ateneo takes on fifth-running University of Santo Tomas (6-6) at 5 p.m.
The Scores:
AdU (62) – Jonah 11, Anabo 9, Cañete 8, Erolon 8, Medina 6, Torres 6, Tumaneng 6, Montebon 5, Edding 3, Mangaron 0, Cruz-Dumont 0, Demisana 0, Barcelona 0, Perez 0, Pacquiao 0.
Ateneo (55) – Tuano 11, Alas 9, Espinosa 8, Baruwa 8, Bongo 7, Kapihe 5, Bahay 3, Rogers 2, Roberts 2, Espina 0.
Quarterscores: 13-15, 28-25, 47-37, 62-55.
