Better late than never: Adamson avoids winless UAAP season after escaping UP

 

Adamson University avoided a winless season with a 67-63 win against University of the Philippines in the second round of the UAAP Season 77 men's basketball tournament on Tuesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

 

Adamson coach Kenneth Duremdes was moved to tears with the victory, as the Falcons exacted revenge on the Maroons who beat them in the first round. The two teams hold identical 1-13 cards.

 

Don Trollano led the Falcons with a double-double performance, scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Jansen Rios finished with 11 points and boards, while Dawn Ochea added nine points and five offensive rebounds.

 

Rookie Diego Dario scored a career-high 13 points for the Maroons, while Kyles Lao chipped in 11 points. Team captain Moriah Gingerich, who is playing his last year for UP, contributed 10 points. Mikee Reyes added nine.

 

UP rained threes on Adamson in the first quarter, nailing six treys from five shooters to mount a 24-12 lead going into the second quarter. The Maroons were still ahead by 10 with 1:25 left in the second off a Gingerich jumper, but five straight points from Monteclaro 

 

Adamson slowly climbed back in the second, limiting UP to six points while scoring 13 to come close 30-25 at half time.

 

The Falcons then turned around the game in the third, taking advantage of the Maroons' turnovers. Ochea scored off a Trollano feed to tie the game before Monteclaro and Rios nailed baskets on the break to take over the driver's seat, 38-34.

 

Lao worked on the offense to keep UP's head out of the water, answering Adamson's bursts with his own baskets and charities. Dave Moralde drew a foul on a putback to remain within striking distance, 50-45, going into the fourth.

 

But the Falcons gunned for a 7-0 blitz to open the final frame, ballooning their lead to 57-45. Reyes and Dario combined to trim the cushion to 63-58.

 

Dario then took charge for UP, draining a trey and nailing two charities to force a 63-63 deadlock with a minute left. But Adamson took advantage of the slow to return defense and countered quickly with Ochea scoring off a Rios assist, 65-63.

 

UP then forced a turnover with 20 seconds left for one last chance to shoot, but Reyes missed his triple. Axel Iñigo retrieved the long rebound for Adamson and got fouled, shooting two free throws to ice the game. — JST, GMA News/Photo by KC Cruz