MANILA—Adamson overcame a season-best 31-point outburst by National University star Ray Parks as the Falcons downed the Bulldogs, 68-53, to solidify their hold of second spot in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Alex Nuyles and Janus Lozada led a balanced charge in a game the Falcons controlled from the get-go and powered Adamson to a 7-2 card.
“We didn’t mind if he (Parks) kept on scoring, we had other players answering on the other end,” said coach Leo Austria.
“Patience gave us win number seven. I think it’s the best performance of the team. We were cohesive, we played as one unit.”
RR Garcia also came out with a phenomenal game, leading a furious comeback as Far Eastern University rose from 16 points down in the last seven minutes to down University of the Philippines, 59-53.
The 5-foot-10 Garcia poured in 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 12 straight in a run that pushed the Tamaraws ahead after trailing by as many as 35-51 in the final period.
Garcia, last season’s MVP, shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the two-point range and also nailed all but one of his three attempts from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter.
The thriller snapped a three-game skid for the Tamaraws, who took solo third at 5-4 while avenging their first-round loss to the Maroons, 76-63.
“I’m thankful that coach gave me the confidence and my teammates never gave up,” said Garcia, who also matched his career-high.
Garcia tied the record for most points in a fourth quarter set by JV Casio during La Salle’s 81-79 victory over University of Santo Tomas on Aug. 28, 2008.
Parks had an impressive 12-of-19 shooting for the Bulldogs, who slipped to 3-6.
The last player to score 30 points in a losing effort was Ateneo’s Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who had 33 markers in the Eagles’ loss to the Tamaraws, 72-66, on July 31, 2008.
FEU’s big men also delivered with Carl Cruz finishing with 11 points and five boards and Aldrech Ramos collecting 11 markers, 14 rebounds and four assists.
The Tamaraws held the Maroons, whose record dropped to 2-7, to just five points in the fourth quarter.
FEU coach Bert Flores said the Tamaraws made key defensive adjustments, forcing the Maroons to shoot from the outside, where they had a woeful 1-of-11 clip from three-point range.
Just like the Tamaraws, the Falcons avenged their first-round setback to the Bulldogs, 63-56,
Nuyles had a perfect 3-of-3 clip from beyond the arc for 13 points on top of three rebounds and five assists.
Lozada shot 13 markers and grabbed five boards, while Roider Cabrera also helped the Falcons get off to a strong start by firing all of his 11 points in the first quarter.
The Falcons picked up the win despite the absence of key cog Jan Colina, who sat out due to a sprained left ankle.
The scores:
First Game
FEU 59—Garcia 25, Cruz 11, Ramos 8, Exciminiano 6, Romeo 4, Pogoy 2, Escoto 2, Tolomia 1, Mendoza 0, Foronda 0, Bringas 0, Knuttel 0.
UP 53—Romero 17, Silungan 10, Gamboa 10, Manuel 6, Maniego 4, Juruena 4, Montecastro 2, Wong 0, Mbah 0, Gingerich 0.
Quarters: 15-15, 25-32, 35-48, 59-53
Second Game
ADAMSON 68—Nuyles 13, Lozada13, Cabrera 11, Camson 10, Cañada 9, Brondial 6, Manyara 4, Etrone 2, Alvarez 0.
NU 53—Parks 31, Mbe 6, Celiz 4, Khobuntin 3, Villamor 2, Neypes 2, Alolino 2, Terso 1, Javillonar 0, Ignacio 0.
Quarters: 20-10, 37-22, 48-38, 68-53