BY Andrei Barrantes
ADAMSON is finally showcasing its championship form.
The reigning titlists Baby Falcons kept up their surge after washing out De La Salle Zobel, 76-66, Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
With a second straight win, Adamson improved to 6-5 in the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament and pulled farther away from fellow fourth seed-chasing DLSZ and University of the East.
Earl Medina was instrumental in the white-and-blue's rise, as his energy and effort slowed down fellow Gilas Pilipinas Youth standout Kieffer Alas to 17 points on 6-of-20 shooting from the field.
Mark Esperanza then took care of the other end by scoring 19 points, as Medina and CJ Umali chimed in 17 and 13 markers, respectively, for Adamson which has been reinvigorated following a 1-3 start to its title defense.
With Alas having a rough night, Maco Dabao and Kyean Gubat stepped up for the Jr. Archers, with the former dropping 21 points built on five three-pointers off the bench and the latter contributing 10 points, including two triples.
Tiger Cubs, Baby Tams raise the stakes
University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University-Diliman, meantime, continued their arms race for the second seed with separate convincing victories.
After seeing their eight-game win run get extinguished the last time around, the Tiger Cubs corrected course and routed Ateneo, 82-72.
Though both squads matched each other point-for-point for most of the game, it was the black-and-gold's 24-point first quarter that gave it the leeway it needed.
Racine Kane put on full display his prowess anew with 25 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks, as Joaqui Ludovice and Carl Manding flanked the Senegalese big on the offensive end with 14 points apiece.
Now at 9-2, UST is already assured of a spot in the Final Four, while also being two wins away from a twice-to-beat advantage.
The Baby Tamaraws then took the fight out of the University of the Philippines Integrated School, 86-70, to also book a ticket to the next round and boost their bid for No. 2.
Cabs Cabonilas flourished once more with an efficient 24 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. Liam Salangsang and Mico Pascual served as his running mates with 12 and 11 markers, respectively.
The Jr. Maroons put up a valiant fight, even taking a 33-32 lead by halftime before running out of gas yet again in only putting up 16 points in the third, while FEU-Diliman erupted for 31 in the same quarter.
Leading the losing effort for still-winless UPIS was Jhustin Hallare who fired 18 points, all from triples. Closely trailing him was Bruce Tubongbanua with 17 points and five steals.
At the other side of Katipunan, Jay M Leal emerged as the most efficient Blue Eagle once more with 17 points and nine boards, as Alfonso Tan was a sparkplug off the bench with 22 markers, two steals, and blocks. All was for naught, though, as they fell to 2-9.
Business continues for streaking Bullpups
NU-Nazareth School continued to close in on an eliminations sweep, this time at the expense of UE, 89-70.
Collins Akowe and Mac Alfanta fronted their beatdown with 18 points each, as the former added 18 rebounds as well.
The Bullpups’ dominant 11th win in as many games was highlighted by a stellar second half, where they logged a 28-point third quarter and extended the lead to 30 at one point in the final frame.
Still spotless and alone atop the leaderboard, NUNS now also owns a playoff incentive - if there is to be a semifinals.
Martin Almanza and Kristopher Lagat were the lone Jr. Warriors to help stop the bleeding by chipping in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Their Final Four hopes now hang by a thread at 4-7, tied with DLSZ at fifth and sixth.
The Scores:
First Game
UST 82 - Kane 25, Ludovice 14, Manding 14, Buenaflor 12, Bucsit 8, Canete 5, Solon 2, Cinco 2, Javier 0, Acido 0, Vidanes 0, Bohol 0
ATENEO 72 - Tan 22, Leal 17, Urbina 11, Espinas 6, Delos Santos 6, Gatmaitan 4, Kallos 2, Lagdamen 2, Lacsamana 2, Kaw 0, Reyes 0, Asistio 0
Quarters: 24-15, 47-39, 62-54, 82-72
Second Game
NUNS 89 - Akowe 18, Alfanta 18, Cartel 13, Palanca 10, Locsin 9, Matias 5, Pillado 5, Solomon 4, Napa 3, Figueroa 2, Nepacena 2, Usop 0, Natinga 0
UE 70 - Almanza 12, Lagat 11, Timbol 9, Alejandro 8, Sabroso 7, Lorenzo 6, Farochilen 5, Bual 4, Bana 4, Diaz 2, Aguas 2, Chua 0, Abellar 0, Roquid 0, Dahino 0
Quarters: 23-14, 40-33, 68-45, 89-70
Third Game
FEU-DILIMAN 86 - Cabonilas 24, Salangsang 12, Pascual 11, Esperanza 8, Burgos 6, Cagurungan 6, Raneses 5, Hall 3, Gemao 3, Godoy 2, Santos 2, Castillejos 2, Dagcutan 2, Maierhofer 0, Gutierresz 0, De Guzman 0
UPIS 70 - Hallare 18, Tubongbanua 17, Melicor 13, Egea 11, Gomez De Liano 11, Poquiz 0, Uvero 0, Coronel 0
Quarters: 18-12, 32-33, 63-49, 86-70
Fourth Game
ADAMSON 76 - Esperanza 19, Medina 14, Umali 13, Sajili 9, Perez 9, Jenodia 5, De Jesus 3, Abayon 2, Tumaneng 2, Caspe 0
DLSZ 66 - Dabao 21, Alas 17, Gubat 10, Mben 8, Daja 6, Atienza 2, Lopez 2, Borrero 0, Arejola 0, Espinosa 0, Favis 0
Quarters: 19-15, 43-33, 58-54, 76-66
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
