Games Wednesday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
2:00 p.m. — UP vs NU
6:00 p.m. — Ateneo vs Adamson
Adamson University recovered from a 13-point third quarter deficit and displayed nerves of steel in the last two minutes to pull off an amazing 80-76 escape over De La Salle University to catch the last bus ride to the Final Four of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 men's basketball tournament on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Jerom Lastimosa went quiet in the last frame of the playoff for the no. 4 spot after spewing fire in the first three quarters but the rest of the Falcons carried the scoring load the rest of the way for their first semifinals appearance since 2018.
Adamson will face top seed and twice-to-beat Ateneo de Manila University in the Final Four on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lastimosa, who missed a couple of games in the second round after right foot injury, fired 22 points including 11 straight in the third period and got six assists to lead the Falcons, who defeated an undermanned Green Archers side missing projected Rookie of the Year Kevin Quiambao and Michael Phillips due to undisclosed illnesses and Schonny Winston (calf injury).
The prized guard sank two crucial free throws in the last 12 seconds to give Adamson a 79-76 separation before Joshua Yerro iced the game with a split from the foul line.
"We're actually gatecrashing to the Finals Four. People didn't expect us to be in the Final Four they expected I don't know what you call it… big spenders. To me, they're all big spenders," Adamson coach Nash Racela said.
"I'm happy the team did their part to be in this situation. I will check our emotions. We don't want to be on a high because may trabaho pa and we're still gonna play Wednesday and the weekend."
Yerro got 13 markers, Adrian Manlapaz posted 11 points while Lenda Douanga had 10 points with his last basket putting Adamson up, 75-74, with 1:30 left.
Cedrick Manzano and JM Sabandal added eight points each for the Falcons.
After Manzano put Adamson up, 77-74, Evan Nelle stole the ball from Lastimosa off the inbound to cut the Green Archers' deficit to one. 76-77, with 15.4 left. The Falcons then sealed it from the line.
Adamson and La Salle engaged in a shootout in the second period. The Falcons strung nine straight points to close the gap, 29-30, only to see the Green Archers stretch it back to 45-35 after Ben Phillips hits a three with 40 seconds left.
Lastimosa answered back with a trey butNelle released an outside shot of his own for a 48-38 La Salle lead heading to halftime.
The Green Archers built a 51-38 separation before Lastimosa scored 11 straight points all by his lonesome to keep the Falcons in the game.
Nelle ended up with 22 points and seven assists, Mark Nonoy had 15 markers, CJ Austria scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter while Phillips also had 11 in a lost cause for La Salle.
The Scores:
ADAMSON (80) — Lastimosa 22, Yerro 13, Manlapaz 11, Douanga 10, Manzano 8, Sabandal 8, Jaymalin 3, Hanapi 2, Flowers 2, Torres 1, V. Magbuhos 0, Colonia 0, Barasi 0, Fuentebella 0.
LA SALLE (76) — Nelle 22, Nonoy 15, B. Phillips 11, Austria 11, Cortez 10, Abadam 3, Macalalag 2, Buensalida 2, Estacio 0, Nwankwo 0, Manuel 0.
Quarters: 20-27, 38-48, 59-60, 80-76.