MANILA – Cyrus Austria drained a buzzer-beating triple to lift De La Salle University Green Archers over Adamson University Falcons, 81-78, in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the score tied at 78-all following an earlier put back by DLSU’s Michael Phillips, Austria got the ball from the corner from a pass by Benjamin Phillips to drill the three-pointer at the buzzer.
Austria finished the game with 16 points as the Green Archers snapped its four-game losing skid as they improved to 4-6 win-loss slate to revive their Final Four hopes.
Benjamin Phillips added 14 markers, including three outside conversions, Mike had double-double 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Negrense Mark Nonoy had eight points, five assists, and four steals.
The Green Archers played for the third straight game without injured Filipino-American reinforcement Deschon Winston, who was the leading MVP candidate this season.
“I’ve been telling the boys we can’t lose our poise out there. The shot from CJ there, it was a shot from heaven,” said Green Archers head coach Derrick Pumaren.
The Green Archers were trailing for most part of the game and were down 60-65 in the fourth quarter before leaning on consecutive outside conversions by Benjamin to take a 75-74 lead.
The Falcons managed to regain the advantage at 76-75 but Austria tied the score at 76-all before Adamson regained the lead for the last time at 78-76 on an inside hit by Didat Hanapi.
“We worked hard for it. Gonna give it to Adamson even though (Jerom) Lastimosa and (Vince) Magbuhos didn’t play they still played well,” said Pumaren, pertaining to the absence of two Adamson stars.
Joshua Yerro ended with 18 points and five assists, while Aaron Flowers had 15 points and five rebounds as the Falcons slumped to 4-6 win-loss record.
BOX SCORE:
DLSU 81 — Austria 16, Phillips M. 14, Phillips B. 14, Nonoy 8, Quiambao 8, Abadam 6, Nwankwo 6, Nelle 5, Estacio 4, Macalalag 0, Cortez 0, Manuel 0.
ADAMSON 78 — Yerro 18, Flowers 15, Hanapi 10, Jaymalin 10, Douanga 10, Manzano 6, Sabandal 3, Colonia 2, Barasi 2, Fuentebella 2, Torres 0, Barcelona 0, W. Magbuhos 0.
Quarterscores: 23-23, 40-42, 57-62, 81-78./PN
