Adamson leans on Cabrera, Cruz to eliminate La Salle in PCCL

Photo from collegiatechampionsleague.net

MANILA, Philippines—Adamson booted out La Salle, 63-56, Thursday and  kept its unbeaten streak dating back to the Metro Manila qualifiers in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).

The Falcons leaned on clutch treys from swingman Roider Cabrera in the final minute to seal the victory, which sets up a meet with San Sebastian on Sunday in the Sweet 16.

Jericho Cruz, who has definitely emerged every game as the squad’s main man, steered the Falcons to the lead, 55-52, before Cabrera’s wide-open triple.

Cruz first gave the Falcons their first lead of the game, 49-48, with 3:41 left in the game.

Cruz and Cabrera led Adamson with 17 and 15 points, respectively, to put on a show in a packed Cebu Coliseum.

The Falcons, who weren’t able to show the extent of their grit in the UAAP, had to go through three-day qualifiers just to reach the Sweet 16 of the PCCL—which is now on its Cebu City stop.

La Salle came out firing and opened up an 8-0 lead, but eventually slowed down and allowed Adamson to keep in step.

A four-point swing courtesy of Oda Tampus and Norbert Torres had the Green Archers holding on by a hairline, but turnovers keyed in their doom in the finals seconds.

The UAAP fourth-placers, who hurdled Perpetual Help to get to Cebu, was still in the lead, 46-42, on a bucket by Jeron Teng with six minutes to go.