Still alive: Adamson blasts also-ran Ateneo, sets up playoff for 4th vs UE

MANILA, Philippines – The Adamson Soaring Falcons live to fight another day in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. 

Facing a do-or-die situation, the Soaring Falcons took care of business against the also-ran Ateneo Blue Eagles, 69-55, in the final game of the elimination round at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Saturday, November 23. 

With the victory, Adamson arranged a playoff for the fourth and final semifinal spot against the UE Red Warriors on Wednesday, November 27, as both teams ended the eliminations with identical 6-8 records. 

The winner between the Soaring Falcons and the Red Warriors will then face the top-seeded La Salle Green Archers in the Final Four. 

“We’re willing to go through that (playoff for fourth) every year, if that’s our shot at making it to the Final Four,” said Adamson head coach Nash Racela as they find themselves in the same position as Seasons 85 and 86, where they had to play in a knockout for a chance to clinch the last Final Four spot.  

Royce Mantua stepped up to the plate for the Soaring Falcons, finishing with 14 points on an ultra-efficient 7-of-8 field goal clip, including a perfect 7-of-7 shooting from the two-point area.

Manu Anabo and Matt Erolon also came up big for Adamson as they knocked down three triples each to backstop Mantua with 13 and 11 points, respectively. 

With Adamson slowly threatening to pull away with a 51-41 advantage off an and-one play by Mantua with 34.9 seconds left in the third period, Ateneo finished the quarter on a quick 5-0 run to keep in step with the Soaring Falcons.

Unfortunately for Ateneo, Adamson quickly restored its double-digit edge in the fourth quarter, off a booming triple by Anabo at the 8:26 mark.

The Soaring Falcons never looked back, even pushing its lead to its biggest at 16 points, 69-53, after a three-pointer by Erolon with only 1:12 to play. 

AJ Fransman added 8 points and 7 rebounds for the Soaring Falcons, while Arthur Calisay had 6 markers and 5 boards before getting ejected late in the second quarter due to two technical fouls. 

Jared Bahay paced Ateneo in the loss with 14 points, while Chris Koon finished with 10 in his final UAAP game. 

After missing the Final Four bus for the first time in 11 years, Ateneo wrapped up its Season 87 campaign at the eighth and last spot with a 4-10 record.  

The Scores

Adamson 69 – Mantua 14, Anabo 13, Erolon 11, Fransman 8, Calisay 6, Manzano 6, Yerro 5, Ramos 4, Ojarike 2, Montebon 0, Barasi 0, Ronzone 0, Dignadice 0, Barcelona 0, Alexander 0, Ignacio 0.

Ateneo 55 – Bahay 14, Espinosa 10, Koon 10, Porter 7, Bongo 4, Tuano 4, Lazaro 3, Quitevis 2, Ong 1, Gamber 0, Espina 0, Asoro 0, Edu 0, Reyes 0. 

Quarters: 16-15, 37-33, 51-46, 69-55.

– Rappler.com