MANILA — Adamson University Soaring Falcons squandered a commanding 15-point lead but recovered behind Matthew Erolon’s clutch three-pointer to stun De La Salle University Green Archers, 63-60, and force a three-way tie for third place at the end of the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament’s first round on Sunday at the Blue Eagles Gym.
Erolon delivered the decisive blow in the closing moments, drilling a go-ahead triple that pushed Adamson ahead, 61-58, after the Green Archers had erased the Falcons’ double-digit advantage.
La Salle had an opportunity to answer, but Jacob Cortez misfired from beyond the arc before Manu Anabo calmly sank two free throws to extend Adamson’s lead to 63-58 and put the game beyond the Green Archers’ reach.
Erolon finished with a team-high 14 points, while Matthew Montebon contributed 11 as the Falcons improved to a 4-3 win-loss record, tying Far Eastern University Tamaraws and University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers for third to fifth places.
The defeat dealt another setback to the Green Archers, who slipped to 3-4 and ended the opening round tied with archrival Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles for sixth to seventh places.
Cortez and Henry Agunnane spearheaded La Salle’s offense with 12 points apiece, but their efforts proved insufficient against Adamson’s late-game composure.
Meanwhile, National University Bulldogs completed a stirring second-half comeback to defeat FEU Tamaraws, 69-65, and climb into a share of the league leadership.
Trailing 47-39 at halftime, the Bulldogs gradually chipped away at the Tamaraws’ advantage before Mo Diassana converted a crucial basket that gave NU a 59-58 lead in the third quarter.
The two squads remained locked in a tight battle in the final period, with neither side able to establish a comfortable cushion.
With the score tied at 65-all, Macmac Alfanta and PJ Palacielo delivered the decisive baskets to propel the Bulldogs to their fifth victory in seven outings.
Alfanta paced NU with 14 points, two rebounds and one assist, while Palacielo and Tebol Garcia chipped in 13 markers apiece.
Reinhard Jumamoy contributed 12 points, while Paul Francisco added 10 as the Bulldogs improved to 5-2, drawing level with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons atop the standings.
The loss dropped FEU to 4-3, leaving the Tamaraws in a three-way tie with Adamson and UST heading into the second round of eliminations./PN
