Adamson University’s Matt Erolon in action against De La Salle University’s JC Macalalag in UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball. Photo from UAAP Media.
MANILA (UPDATED) — Adamson University remained in the Final 4 hunt of UAAP Season 88 men's basketball after it stunned De La Salle University, 61-60, on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia in Pasay.
Matt Erolon came alive with 18 points and five rebounds to steer the Soaring Falcons to their sixth victory in 13 games as the race to the last two slots in the postseason heats up.
"Malaki pa yung chance, at aware kami kanina na 'pag natalo kami, tapos na kami," said Adamson coach Nash Racela, who also drew 15 points and nine rebounds, and 10 markers from Matthew Montebon.
"So I'm excited sa scenarios. A lot of things will still happen, so we just need to do our part. Buhay pa rin kami, so we just need to prepare," he added.
Facing a 52-53 disadvantage in the final frame, the Soaring Falcons hacked out a nine-to-two surge for a 61-55 advantage behind baskets from Erolon, Montebon, and Manzano.
And while Jacob Cortez and Earl Abadam answered with five straight points to get within one, 61-60, the Green Archers could not take advantage of Adamson's misses.
Luis Pablo swatted Erolon's three-pointer with only 17 seconds left, giving La Salle one last chance to win the game after a scramble for the ball, but Abadam pulled up from beyond the arc off a fastbreak and eventually bricked his attempt.
Vhoris Marasigan led the Green Archers with 15 points, EJ Gollena followed with 10, while Mike Phillips had seven points, 15 rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
However, La Salle absorbed their sixth loss in 12 games, only half a game above the fifth-placed Ateneo de Manila University which is at 5-6
The Scores:
Adamson 61 – Erolon 18, Manzano 15, Montebon 10, Fransman 7, Torres 6, Anabo 3, Ojarikre 2, Medina 0, A. Ronzone 0, Perez 0, Jaymalin 0, C. Ronzone 0, Demisana 0, Barcelona 0.
La Salle 60 – Marasigan 15, Gollena 10, Macalalag 8, Phillips 7, Pablo 7, Cortez 5, Abadam 5, Dungo 3, Nwankwo 0, Gomez 0.
Quarterscores: 17-16, 35-31, 45-50, 61-60.