Birthday gift lifts Adamson past Ateneo

Adamson’s Vince Magbuhos celebrates after squeaking past Ateneo on a buzzer-beating triple in overtime. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Tab Baldwin said his team prefers its more thorough analytics over the league-produced statistics when they scrutinize their games.

“… I carry this thing (stat sheet) around and we hardly look at it. We have our own set of stats based on analytics and that means so much more,” the Ateneo coach said.

Hard to tell under what category a birthday wish falls under in that stat sheet. Because that’s what Adamson credited for its win against the defending champions.

“I prayed early this morning and wished to gift me with a win today. My prayers were answered,” said Vince Magbuhos, after draining the game-winning triple in his Falcons’ 74-71 overtime victory over the Blue Eagles on Saturday in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was a day of blowouts in the premier collegiate tournament of the country—although more literally for Magbuhos, who turned 24 on Saturday.

“When Vince shot the ball. I asked the Lord to reward him because it’s his birthday. So this game is really for birthday boy Vince,” said Adamson coach Nash Racela.

In a battle of undefeated squads, Francis Lopez led the Maroons’ balanced attack to whip National University, 78-60. La Salle, meanwhile, vented its ire on the winless University of Santo Tomas, 91-71.