CJ Cansino did not want his run in the UAAP juniors basketball tournament to come to halt just yet as he saved University of Santo Tomas in overtime to beat Adamson, 73-72, in their fourth place playoff Wednesday at Blue Eagle Gym.
The newly minted Season 80 MVP unloaded eight of his 24 points in the extra period, none bigger than his huge bucket with 1:13 mark left to give the Tiger Cubs a 73-68 lead before holding off a belated rally from the Baby Falcons.
Cansino also contributed nine rebounds, six assists, and two blocks for UST, which will now brace for defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman in the first level of the stepladder semis on Saturday.
The victor of that knockout game will take on twice-to-beat National University.
Sweeping the elimination phase, Ateneo is now firmly in the championship series as it awaits its date in the best-of-three series.
Kobe Palencia chipped in 15 markers, while Bismarck Lina tallied a double-double effort of 12 points and 12 boards for the Tiger Cubs.
Joem Sabandal led the charge for Adamson with 20 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.