Photo from UAAP
MANILA, Philippines – A poor Adamson team, 61-58, relied on timely play to survive in La Salle in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
Saturn Winston and Evan Nell came to the rescue late, the Green Archers delivered the much-needed baskets after going into a drought and being captured by a kite of 18-2 Falcons from Cedric Manzano, trailing 8-53-45.
Winston scored five points in a row to give La Salle a 56-55 lead, where Nelle tripped the clutch triple for 59-55 breaths with 16.3 seconds left.
Justin Baltazar also brought in a pair of important blocks for the Archers on the defensive end, including a denial of Keith Jaldivar’s potential game-tying 3-pointer, sealing La Salle’s fifth win in seven games for the final third pick. First round
Jaldivar had earlier hit a triple that cut La Salle’s lead to one, 59-58, with Joachim Manuel making a few freebies with 10.4 ticks left to make it 61-58.
“I think we lost focus when we got a 10-point lead (in the third quarter). We thought the game was over. We didn’t stop and we relaxed, “said La Salle coach Derrick Pumaren. “We fought back in defense, we stopped and that’s why we’re back in the game. Bucky, everyone, defensively it was a great team effort. It was the defense that won our game. It was a tough win for us. “
Manuel scored 10 of his season-high 14 in the third quarter, where he led La Salle 43-33 in the first five minutes of the period. He made 5-of-7 shots from the field and rebounded six.
Nellie delivered 12 points in four three-pointers on three rebounds, two steals and one assist. Winston had 10 points, with Baltzer adding six points, five boards, four assists and two blocks.
Adamson absorbed another heartbreaker after a 65-66 defeat to the FEU, losing six of his seven games in the first round for seventh place.
Jerome Lastimosa led the Falcons anew with 15 points, seven assists and three rebounds. Lenda Duanga made a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, with Joem Sabandal adding 10 markers.
Score:
LA SALLE 61 – Manuel 14, Nelle 12, Winston 10, M. Phillips 8, Lojera 8, Baltazar 6, Galman 3, Nwanwko 0, Nonoy 0, B. Phillips 0.
Adamson 58 – Lastimosa 15, Duanga 11, Sabandal 10, Hanapi 9, Jaldivar 5, Manzano 4, Magbuhos 2, Peromingan 2, Yero 0, Colonia 0, Kallis 0, Erlon 0, Mata 0, Joy.
Quarters: 15-15, 30-26, 45-42, 61-58.
Get the hottest sports news right in your inbox
Read on
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to access Philippine Daily Inquirer and 70+ other headlines, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download by 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.