UAAP: Nuyles plays hero for the Falcons; Tigers up
MANILA—Alex Nuyles struck with a turnaround jumper with eight-tenths of a second left as Adamson nipped La Salle, 68-66, to keep second place Sunday in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Falcons, who seemed in complete control after a 24-2 second-quarter run, lost their touch in the final period as the Archers rallied behind Almond Vosotros, who unloaded back-to-back three-pointers to tie it at 66, time down to 15.8 seconds.
Outscored 27-10 at that point, the Falcons escaped with their sixth win in eight games as Nuyles delivered the biggest basket of the match on the return play.
The Archers fell to 4-4 like the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, who earlier downed the University of the Philippines Maroons, 77-70, behind a double-double performance by Cameroonian Karim Abdul.
Abdul scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, although it was the feisty guard Jeric Fortuna, who struck hardest for UST when it counted most by firing seven of his 15 points in the last six minutes.
UP, which fell to 2-6, drew 19 points, seven rebounds, seven steals and five blocks from Michael Silungan.
“It was really scary. We get criticized for this kind of game but it’s a test of character for us,” said coach Leo Austria of Adamson, which led 56-39 after three quarters.
The Tigers led for most of the game but endured some anxious moments when the Maroons rallied to within 67-71.
“The key right now is that Abdul is starting to dominate,” said coach Pido Jarencio of his 6-foot-6 find, whom he intends to help get naturalized after his five-year tenure with UST.
The scores:
First Game
UST 77—Abdul 21, Fortuna 15, Teng 13, Ferrer 8, Afuang 8, Lo 4, Camus 4, Sheriff 2, Pe 2, Vigil 0, Tan 0.
UP 70—Silungan 19, Gamboa 18, Romero 11, Manuel 6, Maniego 5, Montecastro 3, Wong 2, Wierzba 2, Gingerich 2, Fortu 0, Pascual 0, Juruena 0, Gomez 0.
Quarters: 22-18, 38-33, 58-52, 77-70
Second Game
ADAMSON 68—Camson 20, Nuyles 14, Alvarez 14, Brondial 6, Lozada 6, Cabrera 5, Colina 2, Manyara 1, Etrone 0.
LA SALLE 66—Vosotros 18, Dela Paz 11, Torres 10, Can Opstal 6, Tampus 6, Villanueva 6,Marata 3, Revilla 2, Paredes 2, Andrada 2, Sara 0, Mendoza 0.
Quarters: 11-18, 35-20, 56-39, 68-66
