Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Lenda Douanga emerged as the hero as he rescued Adamson University past National University, 84-83, in overtime in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Douanga got the inbound pass from Jerom Lastimosa from the top of the key and drilled the triple to beat the buzzer.
The Soaring Falcons, though, had to weather Dave Ildefonso’s offensive exploits with NU’s star scoring all nine of the Bulldogs’ points in the final frame.
“It was a designed play, I told him everyone will be guarded so he has to take the three,” said Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren with a tinge of jest.
The game-saving three-pointer, however, wasn’t Douanga’s only clutch play with the center tying the game at 81-all with 22.6 seconds left after Ildefonso’s layup.
Douanga was also responsible for sending the game to overtime, 74-all, with a second chance layup off of Simon Camacho’s miss with 3.3 seconds left in regulation.
“It was a roller coaster ride for us… but this was the right scenario for us to make sure we have to play within the system,” said Pumaren.
Douanga finished with a team-high 26 points with 19 rebounds and one block to lead the Soaring Falcons while Camacho also had his double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Val Chauca, who fouled out late in the fourth, had 13 points while Lastimosa and Jerrick Ahanmisi had 10 points apiece.
Ildefonso had a game-high 29 points with nine rebounds, and four steals for the Bulldogs who lost their opening game of the season.