ADAMSON needed no miracles this time, taking care of business in regulation, while also sending another team home.
AJ Fransman commandeered the Soaring Falcons' superb finishing kick to eliminate National University from Final Four contention in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament, 53-41, Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The transferee from Enderun Colleges produced seven of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, as he captained Adamson's 22-9 getaway to turn the game from a close 31-28 affair to a 53-37 lead with 1:30 to play.
Fransman also hauled down 11 rebounds, three assists, and one steal, as the San Marcelino side boosted their chances to stay in the hunt for a semifinal ticket after rising to 5-7.
Jhon Calisay chipped in seven points, Cedrick Manzano got six points and seven boards, and Mathew Montebon and Matty Erolon scored six each as well to make sure the Soaring Falcons didn't need heroics like Joshua Yerro's buzzer-beating alley-oop in their previous meeting.
“Ang importante lang is buhay pa kami. That’s something we keep telling the players,” said coach Nash Racela, noting his side’s slim chances, while also lauding the defense which held the Bulldogs to just 25.9-percent field goal shooting.
“Before the game, we told them about the alignment of stars. So, pumuporma pa pero if we don’t do our part, it will not happen. That’s the challenge we told them before the game.”
It was another struggle for National U which only saw PJ Palacielo score in double-figures with 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Bulldogs, with their 4-9 record, join Ateneo (3-9) as teams already out of the running in the Final Four.
The Scores:
ADAMSON 53 – Fransman 18, Calisay 7, Manzano 6, Calisay 6, Montebon 6, Yerro 3, Mantua 3, Anabo 2, Ronzone 2, Ojarikre 0, Ramos 0, Barasi 0, Alexander 0, Ignacio 0, Dignadice 0, Barcelona 0.
NU 41 – Palacielo 10, Figueroa 8, Santiago 5, Padrones 4, Jumamoy 4, Manansala 3, Enriquez 3, Francisco 3, Garcia 1, Yu 0, Lim 0, Tulabut 0, Parks 0, Dela Cruz 0.
Quarters: 18-7, 28-20, 39-31, 53-41.
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