Adamson catches last Final Four ride

Adamson University crashed the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men’s basketball tournament Final Four party through the backdoor with a 68-55 playoff win over luckless University of the East Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Using a telling 18-0 run that bridged the first two quarters to set the tone for the convincing victory and book a return trip to the semifinals after missing the cut last year also in sudden death.

Adamson, which won four of its last five games, will challenge twice-to-beat defending champion De La Salle University in the Final Four set on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We’re grateful that two out of the three knockout games were able to advance. Like what I said the other day, if we need to go through a playoff every year, we’ll go through it,’” head coach Nash Racela said after the Falcons’ second playoff win in three straight seasons.

Adamson forced a playoff after closing the elimination round with a 6-8 win-loss record tied with the freefalling Red Warriors.

“The beauty about is we really gave ourselves a chance. The players, more specifically did their part getting here but we still have a job to do,” Racela added.

Cedrick Manzano exploded for 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds with four assists, two steals and two blocks in an all-around game to lead Adamson.

Matty Montebon got 13 markers, dished out six assists and three boards while Joshua Yerro had seven points and seven rebounds.

UE raced to a 10-2 lead but it was the beginning of the end from there as the Falcons uncorked a huge run that the Red Warriors failed to recover from.

Manzano gave Adamson its biggest separation, 58-43, with a basket in the last 6:33 of the game.

It was a disappointing ending for what was a promising campaign for the Red Warriors when it racked up five straight wins to end the first round.

UE went 1-6 in the second round, closing the elims with five losses in a row before eventually bowing to the Falcons to miss the Final Four for a 15^th straight year.

Jack Cruz-Dummont on his farewell game had 15 points including three treys while Rainer Maga and John Abate added 10 markers in a lost cause.

Nigerian Precious Momowei hurt his back after a bad fall following a block attempt on Montebon and was stretchered off the court. He had 10 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

The scores:

ADAMSON (68) – Manzano 17, Montebon 13, Yerro 7, Mantua 6, Erolon 5, Anabo 5, Fransman 5, Ojarikre 4, Ramos 3, Alexander 3, Barasi 0, Ronzone 0, Dignadice 0, Barcelona 0, Ignacio 0.

UE (55) – J. Cruz-Dumont 15, Maga 10, Momowei 10, Abate 10, Fikes 9, Lingolingo 1, Wilson 0, Galang 0, Mulingtapang 0, Spandonis 0, Go 0.

Quarters: 16-10, 39-30, 52-40, 68-55.