INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines--Early in the game, Adamson threw more of a scare than expected.

And when the Falcons seemed headed for a collapse, the unheralded squad dug deep in the final stretch to complete a monumental upset against the favored University of the East with a 66-64 squeaker in the 71st UAAP men's basketball competition Sunday at the PhilSports Arena.

Paul Gonzalgo knocked down a triple from the left elbow with 1.6 seconds left to salvage the game after the Falcons blew a 15-point advantage, 48-33, over last season's runner-up.

"Our offense and the execution of our plays were good," said Adamson coach Leo Austria. "The players themselves were the ones who really wanted to win."

Gonzalgo, the 5-foot-11 son of former pro Dante Gonzalgo, wasn't the only one who came up big in the Falcons' second straight victory in four outings.

Jan Colina buried a team-high 15 points, including six straight that kept the Falcons in the match during the Warriors' fourth-quarter comeback. The 6-foot-3 forward also grabbed 10 rebounds and posted three blocks.

The Warriors had a chance to claim victory, but skipper Marcy Arellano's potential game-winning triple rimmed out at the buzzer.

Before Gonzalgo's deciding shot, Elmer Espiritu sank two free throws off a Colina foul with 23.9 ticks left to give the Warriors their first lead, 64-63, since early in the second period.

"We knew that UE is capable of a comeback and that's exactly what happened," said Austria. "We took advantage of our size. Without our big men, it would be hard for us to win. They don't have a legitimate center and the presence of (Michael) Galinato intimidated their big men."

The Warriors surprisingly skidded to their second straight loss to join the Falcons at the third spot at 2-2.

On the one hand, it's the second straight time a former pro's son led the Falcons after Marc Agustin, son of former PBA great Ato Agustin, led them to a 73-65 triumph over National University last week.

With Colina and Junard Yambot leading a strong bench performance, the Falcons got their game going in the second quarter by outscoring the Warriors, 22-12, for a 32-27 halftime advantage.

The lead extended to 42-29 after Galinato, who contributed nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks, sparked a 10-2 spurt early in the third period.

Colina helped pushed the lead to 15 points, 48-33, before the Warriors rallied behind Elmer Espiritu, Rudy Lingganay and James Martinez to move within a point, 63-62, in the final minute.

The Warriors , who lost to Ateneo, 64-58, last week, again played without top backup guard Paul Lee, who's recovering from dengue.

The scores:
ADAMSON 66--Colina 15, Gonzalgo 12, Galinato 9, Olalia 7, Yambot 7, Cañada 6, Santos 4, Nuyles 2, Agustin 2, Alvarez 2.

UE 64--Espiritu 14, Arellano 10, Llagas 8, Lingganay 7, Martinez 6, Noble 5, Thiele 5, Zamar 3, Bandsaying 3, Reyes 2, Duran 1.

Quarters: 10-15, 32-27, 52-43, 66-64