MANILA, Philippines — Almond Vosotros bailed out La Salle with 1.8 ticks left for a 70-69 victory over Adamson as the UAAP season 76 men’s basketball tournament resumed on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Vosotros turned Norbert Torres’ miss into the game winner — putting the Green Archers above .500 — as he nailed an off-balanced jumper which took a few bounces before falling in.
“I think it was a lucky shot. I just got the offensive rebound and got lucky,” said Vosotros who finished with a team-best 19 points for La Salle.
Arnold Van Opstal, whose jumphooks are serving him well this season, added 13 points.
“It’s a good for the team so that even in close games we can win it,” said head coach Juno Saluer.
The Green Archers dealt the Falcons another heartbreak after their controversial first round meeting, for which Adamson had filed and lost a protest.
But Sauler said that there was “no connection between the win in the second round and the game in the first round.”
It was the Falcons’ poor execution down the stretch, this time, which doomed them to their fifth setback, as they committed back-to-back errant passes in the final 30 seconds.
One was from Ryan Monteclaro before Vosotros’ go-ahead bucket, and another from Don Trollano in their final possession, quashing any attempt for a game-winner.
Luck wasn’t on Adamson’s side either as it could’ve sealed the win in regulation, but attempts from Harry Petilos, Rondey Brondial and Trollano just rattled out of the basket.
Brondial led Adamson with 19 points, 23 rebounds and two blocks.