The fight to enter the UAAP Season 80 Women’s Basketball Tournament post-season is not yet over for the Adamson University Lady Falcons.
Adamson ensured that it was still in the conversation for the Final Four after it outlasted the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles 47-46 today in the Blue Eagle Gym.
“Actually nag-practice kami at hindi kami nag-break talaga para makuha namin itong panalong ito,” shared a relieved John Kallos after the game. “Akala namin kontrolado na pero nahirapan. Ang galing din talaga ng coaches ng Ateneo. Well prepared sila for us.”
Nathalie Prado scored 15 points while Jamie Alcoy followed her example with 14 markers to lead the Lady Falcons to their sixth victory this season.
With the game hanging on the balance at 35-35 at the 8:13 mark of the fourth quarter, Katrina Deacon’s three-point play looked to set the Lady Eagles on their way to victory thanks to a 36-40 edge.
However, the Lady Falcons refused to back down and a Prado basket leveled the proceedings at 45-45 in the dying stages of the final period.
Advantage then swung to Ateneo as Deacon converted a charity to hand the Lady Eagles a precarious 45-46 lead, only for Prado to sink two freebies at the other end of make it 47-46 with 12.7 seconds left on the clock.
Ateneo had one last possession, but the Adamson defense held firm as Pinky Uy de Ong’s Hail Mary shot failed to answer the Lady Eagles’ prayers.
The Lady Falcons held on to a 47-46 squeaker at the Lady Eagles’ expense to keep the pressure on the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws for the last post-season ticket.
“Sinabi ko sa mga players it’s not about the coaches or anything eh. It’s all about you and your desire to play defense. When you play defense, madali kami nakaka-convert kasi hindi kami nakaka-execute on our offense. Pero when we play defense, tsaka lang kami nakaka-shoot,” explained Kallos.
Tina Deacon was the sole lady Eagle to finish in double-figures with 14 markers.
Both schools’ next games will be on November 8 at 8:00 AM. Ateneo (3-9) will host UP in the Blue Eagle Gym while Adamson (6-7) takes on University of the East in the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Hopefully we can get that win para hindi kami umaasa na matalo ang FEU. So for us sana manalo kami,” concluded Kallos.
The Scores:
AdU (47) – Prado 15, Alcoy 14, Lacson 9, Rosario 7, Villanueva 2, Araja 0, Cacho 0, Cabug 0, Razalo 0, Camacho 0.
ADMU (46) – Deacon 14, Cancio 8, Uy de Ong 7, Yam 6, Joson 5, Newsome 3, Buendia 3, Go 0, Guytingco 0, Villamor 0.
Quarterscores: 13-7, 27-24, 35-31, 47-46.
