Photo from UAAP
ANTIPOLO—University of the Philippines unleashed another furious rally in the fourth quarter as it overcame Adamson, 81-77, Sunday night to firm up its hold of second spot in UAAP Season 82 basketball tournament at Ynares Center.
The Fighting Maroons crawled out of a 12-point hole in the last seven minutes to secure their seventh victory in 11 games and stay half a game ahead of University of Santo Tomas in the race for the second
semifinal bonus.
“Although this is a big win for us, we need to focus on the next, because this will all be for naught if don’t win our next games,” said UP coach Bo Perasol, whose team faces National University on Wednesday.
The Maroons still have to play fellow Final Four contender De La Salle on Sunday, before their rematch with Ateneo on Oct. 30.
Kobe Paras scattered 21 points, Jun Manzo finished with 17 points and Juan Gomez De Liaño posted a season-high 15 points for the Maroons, who once again dealt the Falcons another heartbreaking defeat.
UP also beat Adamson, 83-82, in overtime in their first round meeting last month.
Manzo scored five points in the last 4:02, while Paras drained a triple to shatter a 76-all deadlock with 1:25 left. Bright Akhuetie helped seal the victory, 81-76, with two foul shots time down to 1:08 remaining.
Adamson seemed to find a response each time UP came alive in the game with Joem Sabandal answering De Liaño’s triple with one of his own for a 72-60 advantage with 7:10 left.
But there was no stopping UP’s onslaught from there.
Ricci Rivero hit a corner triple and De Liaño scored on a fallaway jumper to trigger the comeback. Paras’ short stab tied the game at 74 before Manzo completed a steal and finished an uncontested layup for
the go-ahead basket.
The loss left the Falcons teetering at the brink of elimination after dropping to 4-7 for sixth spot.
The scores:
UP 81 — Paras 21, Manzo 17, Ju. Gomez de Liano 15, Akhuetie 12, Rivero 7, Ja. Gomez de Liano 5, Tungcab 3, Webb 1, Mantilla 0, Murrell 0, Prado 0, Spencer 0.
ADAMSON 77 — Chauca 19, Ahanmisi 13, Camacho 11, Lastimosa 9, Manlapaz 5, Douanga 4, Magbuhos 4, Fermin 3, Mojica 3, Sabandal 3, Yerro 3.
Quarters: 11-19, 36-37, 57-66, 81-77.