WITH Adamson given one last shot at reaching the UAAP Season 87 Final Four, coach Nash Racela asked his players to show just how much they wanted it.
Safe to say, the desire was very much in full view for the Soaring Falcons on Saturday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Royce Mantua and Manu Anabo stepped up big for Adamson, as they shot the lights out in their 69-55 triumph over also-ran Ateneo to forge a face-off opposite University of the East for the fourth seed.
With veteran Jhon Calisay ejected late in the first half, the duo came alive for San Marcelino, as they caught fire from distance and helped their side stage a 15-3 pullaway to turn a close 51-46 affair to start the fourth quarter to a 64-49 lead with 4:55 to play.
That was more then enough to end the Soaring Falcons' eliminations slate at 6-8, tying the idle Red Warriors and necessitating a playoff on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“We’re just thankful and grateful that the players got this win today. We know they worked hard to get this win and they deserve it,” said Racela, as Adamson is set to play in another knockout game for the third straight season. “We’re willing to go through that every year to make it to the Final Four.”
Mantua was a perfect 7-of-7 inside the arc for 14 points off the bench, captaining the 42 points the Soaring Falcons drew from their substitutes.
Anabo also shot 3-of-6 from deep for his 13 points and a pair of rebounds and assists, while Matty Erolon iced the game with a cold-blooded corner three to make it a 69-53 game in the last 1:12, as he finished with 11 points built on three treys in a game where they, as a team, shot 11-of-28 from distance.
Adamson gets back at Ateneo
Adamson closes in on a Final Four return after missing last year’s dance – one which came at the hands of Ateneo in their own playoff.
Jared Bahay capped off his rookie season with 14 points to top-score for the Blue Eagles, while Ian Espinosa and graduating Chris Koon got 10 apiece to close their campaign at 4-10 – matching the school’s least win total in the Final Four era.
The Scores:
ADAMSON 69 – Mantua 14, Anabo 13, Erolon 11, Fransman 8, Manzano 6, Calisay 6, Yerro 5, Ramos 4, Ojarikre 2, Montebon 0, Barasi 0, Ignacio 0, Barcelona 0.
ATENEO 55 – Bahay 14, Koon 10, Espinosa 10, Porter 10, Porter 7, Bongo 4, Tuano 4, Lazaro 3, Quitevis 2, Ong 1, Gamber 0, Edu 0, Espina 0, Asoro 0, Reyes 0.
Quarters: 16-15, 37-33, 51-46, 69-55.
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