UAAP: Ateneo avoids heartbreak, escapes Adamson for solo 4th place

Ateneo’s Kai Ballungay dunks in opposition to Adamson.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet

MANILA, Philippines — No heartbreaker this time for Ateneo because it made the essential stops within the closing seconds to outlive Adamson, 62-58, and regain the solo fourth place within the UAAP Season 86 males’s basketball event on Sunday at Good Araneta Coliseum.

Holding onto a one-point lead, 59-58, after Matthew Erolon’s triple for Adamson, the defending champions didn’t enable the Falcons to attain as Didat Hanapi missed a compelled fadeaway jumper with 4.1 seconds left. 

Sean Quitevis was fouled and cut up his free throws however Joseph Obasa acquired the offensive rebound that led to a pair of freebies to seal the sport with 3.3 ticks remaining.

The Blue Eagles moved a recreation forward of the Falcons at 6-6.

Quitevis confirmed the best way for Ateneo with 12 factors and eight rebounds. Obasa had 10 factors on 6-of-9 free throw capturing to go along with eight rebounds and 4 blocks, whereas Kai Ballungay additionally had 10 factors and eight boards.

The Eagles beat the Falcons regardless of committing 21 turnovers and capturing simply 36.5% from the sphere.

Ateneo’s Sean Quitevis in opposition to Adamson.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet

“That is as robust because it will get. We anticipate that’s the Adamson staff, that’s the Adamson teaching workers. They simply grind you down. And so they’re doing it to all people. They battle. It’s by no means simple in opposition to them. I simply need to congratulate Nash [Racela] and his workers for a tricky recreation,” mentioned Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin after bouncing again from a heartbreaking 74-71 loss to Adamson in extra time within the first spherical final month.

Ateneo blew a 42-32 lead early within the third quarter as Manzano and Hanapi conspired to unleash a 17-0 run for a 49-42 Adamson lead heading to the payoff interval. However the Blue Eagles acquired their act collectively within the closing quarter as Ballungay capped a 10-3 run to tie the sport at 52-all with six minutes left.

The Falcons regained the lead, 55-52, after Monti Montebon’s step again triple. However Jared Brown answered together with his personal earlier than Obasa earned a three-point play, adopted by a Chris Koon free throw for a 59-55 Ateneo edge with 3:16 to play.

“For us, I believed we actually performed an excellent first half. We performed good and hard and it was sort of a recreation we’re hoping for. Low scoring. We had an edge in all places you look. After which within the third quarter once more, I actually don’t know what’s going within the third quarter,” mentioned Baldwin. “It’s completely psychological, not bodily. We simply have to determine what the formulation is.

Adamson coach Nash Racela was upset with the officiating as they acquired within the penalty on the seven-minute mark of the fourth and didn’t have a visit from the road, whereas the Blue Eagles shot 8-of-15 from the charity stripe within the interval and ended the sport with 16-of-31 capturing.

The Falcons, who solely shot 8-of-10 from the free throw line, are nonetheless in competition for the Ultimate 4 with two extra video games remaining. 

Montebon led the staff with 13 factors, whereas Arthur Calisay and Erolon added 9 and eight markers, respectively.

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.

Adamson (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