UAAP: Cruz, Nuyles lead Falcons to first win; Maroons slump to 0-3

(Updated 7:12pm) The Adamson Soaring Falcons notched their first win of the 75th UAAP season, 69-67, surviving a tenacious University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons squad that actually had a look at a game-winner that did not connect, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. UP had a chance to steal one from the Falcons, but Rodney Brondial cleaned up the glass and converted two points off a miss to give Adamson the lead for good. With 18 seconds left in the game, UP had an opportunity to either tie or win the game outright, but the Maroons settled for a wayward triple from Alvin Padilla that clanked off the rim. "It's an ugly win for us but a win is a win," said Adamson head coach Leo Austria. "We were leading [by] twenty points in one half, pero nakalamang sila [UP]. “Nagpapanic sila [the Falcons] at nagkakanya-kanya pero they were able to recover. Kami yung team na nag-aadjust...sa kalaban. Kahit malakas sila, nagagawan namin ng paraan para makasabay sa kanila. Kahit sa mahihina. Hindi kami tulad ng ibang team na may go-to guy, dahil gusto ko lahat sila maging go-to guy” Nuyles made a mockery of Padilla’s defense in the first quarter, slinging three straight triples as the Falcons took an 11-4 lead. As soon as UP revamped its defense, Camson took on the role of designated scorer as the UP defense disrespected his jumper, resulting in four open J’s for the talented big man. Coach Leo Austria and his Falcons led by 20 by the end of the first, unloading 28 easy points compared to UP’s eight. An incensed Ricky Dandan employed a full court press in the subsequent quarter, denying Adamson’s usually crafty plays. The Maroons’ offense picked up some pace, with returning guard Mark Lopez scoring seven points and Fil-Am forward Chris Ball scoring six to fuel a 20-9 second quarter for the UP Fighting Maroons. The lead was diminished to single digits by the end of the first half, 37-29. Out of the halftime intermission, the UP defense continued to clamp down on the Falcons, who struggled to get points from Nuyles and Camson. Seven points from Lopez and two difficult jumpers from Henry Asilum managed to put up 22 points for UP, while allowing 13 for the Falcons forging a deadlock entering the fourth period, 50-all. In a final quarter that saw four deadlocks, smart playmaking by Alex Nuyles in a point-forward role contributed to a 7-0 run that made it 65-59 for Adamson, 2:52 left. An and-one play by Chris Ball and a triple by Mark Lopez sandwiched a score by transferee Jericho Cruz, making it 67-65 with under a minute left. Alvin Padilla knotted the game anew however, at 67-all, leading up to the dying moments of the game. "This is probably our hardest game, dahil alam ng UP ang situation e, kapag nanalo ka, you have a chance," Austria added. Rizal Technological University transferee Jericho Cruz and Eric Camson each notched 19 points, while center Rodney Brondial added a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards. UP got 17 points from Mark Lopez, who missed last season with an injury, while rookie big man Chris Ball added 13 in the defeat. The Maroons managed to outscore Adamson 39-32 in the second half. Both teams shot poorly from the line with UP at a 50% clip and Adamson at 47%. The difference lay in the rebounding department, where Adamson outmuscled UP, 44 rebounds to 31, while scoring 15 second chance points. State U fell to 0-3, tied with the University of the East Red Warriors at the bottom of the standings. They'll try to earn their first win in the "Battle for Katipunan" against the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles on Thrusday, while Adamson will try to shoot for two in a row when they play National U a week from now. - AMD, GMA News The scores: AdU – Cruz 19, Camson 19, Brondial 10, Nuyles 9, Rios 3, Petilos 3, Monteclaro 3, Etrone 3, Trollano 0, Cabrera 0, Julkipli 0, Abrigo 0, Deans 0 UP – Lopez 17, Ball 13, Padilla 9, Montecastro 7, Gamboa 6, Manuel 4, Asilum 4, Silungan 3, Soyud 2, Hipolito 2, Mbah 0, Gallarza 0, Romero 0 Quarter scoring: 28-8, 37-28, 50-50, 69-67