MANILA, Philippines — Adamson rode a surprisingly hot shooting night to third spot on Thursday.
Sizzling from beyond the arc all game long, the Falcons downed the La Salle Green Archers, 69-64, to post their best elimination record since 1994 in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Falcons nailed almost half of their total from three-point range, where they drilled home 11 triples, the most number of treys Adamson hit this season.
“We had some lucky shots, but the players also wanted to win,” said coach Leo Austria after his Falcons posted their best elimination run at 9-5 since the league adopted the Final Four format 17 seasons ago.
Kenyan center Lionel Manyara shot 11 points on top of 17 rebounds and two blocks, while Lester Alvarez fired six of his 11 points from the three-point area.
The Falcons will go up against the No. 2 team, while the Archers —who absorbed back-to-back losses for the first time this season to drop to 8-6—will tangle with the top seed in the Final Four.
Pacesetter Far Eastern University (11-2) and defending champion Ateneo (10-3) have already clinched the twice-to-beat semifinal incentives, but they will still dispute the No. 1 spot in the final elimination game at 4 p.m. on Saturday, also at the Big Dome.
Earlier, National University also finished with its best mark in nine years following a 62-54 victory over University of Santo Tomas.
The Bulldogs wound up with a fifth-best 7-7 slate.
“Looking back, I think we should have made it to the Final Four,” said first-year coach Eric Gonzales. “But to exit with grace, I’m thankful for that.”
The Falcons built a 14-point lead, 57-43, before bucking a rally that pushed the Archers within three, 64-61, with 1:18 left.
But the Archers had two crucial turnovers in the last 57 seconds, and the Falcons cushioned their lead by canning five of their six free throws in the final stretch. Photo by Mark Giongco
The scores:
First GameNATIONAL U 62 —Mbe 18, Ignacio 15, Ponferrada 10, Hermosisima 7, Eriobu 4, Baloran 4, Javelona 3, Khobuntin 1 Ludovice 0, Javillonar 0, Tungcul 0, Terso 0, Singh 0, Malanday 0, Magat 0.
UST 54 —Teng 20, Fortuna 14, Camus 6, Pe 5, Bautista 5, Mamaril 2, Afuang 2, Wong 0, Tinte 0, Marata 0, Lo 0, Daquioag 0, Marquez 0, Mariano 0, Aytona 0.
Quarters: 17-11, 33-24, 52-46, 62-54
Second Game
ADAMSON 69 —Manyara 11, Alvarez 11, Nuyles 9, Cabrera 9, Etrone 8, Cañada 8, Camson 7, Stinnett 2, Monteclaro 2, Galinato 2, Brondial 0, Lozada 0, Colina 0, Basillio 0.
LA SALLE 64 —Vosotros 13, Marata 11, Dela Paz 9, Mendoza 8, Andrada 7, Villanueva 4, Webb 3, Reyes 2, Tampus 2, Paredes 2, Atkins 2, Ferdinand 1, Elorde 0, Tolentino 0.
Quarters: 15-18, 33-30, 57-43, 69-64
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