ATENEO overcame Adamson, 62-58, to save its Final Four bid in UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
From scoring just four and allowing Adamson to go on a 17-0 run in the third frame, Ateneo held its ground late, with team captain Sean Quitevis coming up with 12 points and eight rebounds.
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The Blue Eagles move to fourth spot with a 6-6 win-loss record as the Falcons slip to fifth at 5-7.
“It’s as tough as it gets. That's the Adamson team, that's the Adamson coaching staff — they just grind you down and they're doing it to everybody. Every time they play, it's a battle and it's never easy against them," said Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin.
“I thought we played a really good first half. I thought we played really smart and tough and it was the kind of game I was hoping for, low scoring, we had the edge. Then the third quarter, I don’t really know what’s going on. Wish I did, but I don’t," he added.
From a nine-point Ateneo lead at the half, Adamson fired back with a staggering 17-0 run — including all of Didap Hanapi's six points in the game, to lead by seven before the final quarter.
A three-point shootout then ensued between Monty Montebon and Jared Brown, but Ateneo went on a 16-6 fourth quarter run to keep Adamson at bay.
Fouls and free throws proved to be a decisive turning point in the final frame, with Adamson already in the penalty just three minutes in (11 to 2) and did not get a single free throw attempt in the home stretch (0 to 15).
The scores:
Ateneo (62) – Quitevis 12, Obasa 10, Ballungay 10, Koon 8, Espinosa 7, Amos 6, Credo 4, Brown 3, Lazaro 2, Celis 0, Chiu 0, Nieto 0.
AdU (58) – Montebon 13, Calisay 9, Erolon 8, Magbuhos 7, Manzano 6, Hanapi 6, Yerro 5, Ramos 2, Ojarikre 2, Barasi 0, Cañete 0, Colonia 0.
Quarterscores: 18-13; 38-29; 42-49; 62-58.
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