MATTY Erolon had ice in his veins and waxed hot just in the nick of time for Adamson with a game-winning three-pointer to stun University of Santo Tomas in overtime, 97-96, on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The most important shot of Erolon's nine-point game carried the Soaring Falcons to their fifth win in nine games UAAP Season 88 - and fourth in succession.
Before capping off a dramatic fourth straight win, Adamson had to erase an 80-88 hole in the last 30 seconds of the fourth quarter to avert a second half meltdown.
Such an unlikely comeback was aided by five crucial misses shared by Nic Cabanero and Forthsky Padrigao from the stripe that would’ve sealed the deal right there and then for the Growling Tigers.
San Marcelino senior Montebon would then sink the equalizing triple with five seconds left in regulation off a Cedrick Manzano steal to escape the jaws of defeat just in the nick of time.
Ray Allen Torres, the third of the Soaring Falcons' cerberus at guard, kept his side afloat just when UST was starting to run away in the final frame.
Adamson goes 'NSD' on SMC-backed UST
“I huddled the team right after the game and I thanked them for not giving up,” said Adamson head coach Nash Racela.
That was very much evident, as Montebon and Manzano put up twin 19-point efforts, while Torres fired 20 points on a 6-of-11 shooting clip. Earl Medina also added 10 points and eight boards, all while taking on an unlikely challenge of neutralizing fellow rookie Collins Akowe in the endgame.
Still, Akowe top-scored for the black-and-gold with 19 points and 14 boards. Mark Llemit’s fourth-quarter hero ball nearly had the win in the bag in regulation, as he unfurled 11 of his 18 points in the final frame.
A rough shooting night for Cabanero still had him churn out a 10-piece, but not enough to spare the Growling Tigers from dropping out of the Top 4 four games left in the elimination round. Technically, they are tied with their tormentors, but Adamson edges them out by virtue of this elimination round sweep.
The Scores:
ADAMSON 97 – Torres 20, Montebon 19, Manzano 19, Medina 10, Erolon 9, Anabo 8, Fransman 5, Ojarikre 4, A. Ronzone 3, Tumaneng 0, Perez 0, Demisana 0, Jaymalin 0, Cañete 0, Barcelona 0.
UST 96 – Akowe 19, Llemit 18, Padrigao 14, Paranada 14, Cabañero 10, Acido 8, Crisostomo 8, Estacio 3, Danting 2, Laure 0, Calum 0.
Quarters: 23-20, 47-42, 59-64, 89-89, 97-96.
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