Matty Erolon and Matthew Montebon combine for 28 points as Adamson stunned La Salle to fan their Final Four hopes in UAAP Season 88 men's basketball.
Adamson came out victorious in a must-win contest against last year’s finalist La Salle, 61-60, in a thrilling second-round encounter in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Wednesday, Nov. 19.
In a game characterized by high emotion and intensity, the Soaring Falcons made the baskets when it mattered in a fourth-quarter finish that left the result to a late, ill-advised three-point attempt from Green Archer Earl Abadam.
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Adamson nearly lost a 61-55 lead when Jacob Cortez and Abadam willed La Salle to get within a point, 60-61, with 29 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Even as AdU turned the ball over on the other end, it was able to hang on.
“Sabi namin, in the end, it will just boil down to whoever wants it more,” said Falcons head coach Nash Racela.
“It wasn't a perfect game. There were moments in the game when we weren't doing our part. We allowed them to get rebounds. We allowed them to be first on the ball. But, towards the end, we made stops. We got the rebounds that we needed.”
[RELATED STORY: Adamson edges La Salle to stay alive in UAAP Final Four race]
Montebon and Erolon take charge
Matthew Montebon of Adamson aims for the basket. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
Adamson was in control at halftime as it led 35-31.
But its flat start after the break allowed La Salle to the lead by as much as seven points after a pair of free throws by big man Mike Phillips, 45-38.
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But the Soaring Falcons, who would have been eliminated from Final Four contention had they lost, were spurred on by their no-quit attitude.
Matthew Montebon and Matty Erolon took charge, with the latter drilling a booming corner triple for AdU to wrest the lead, 55-53, with 3:57 left in the game.
“Si Matty and Monty, noong huli, kahit mas maliliit sila, they really battled it against those bigger players of La Salle. In the end, muntik pa nga,” said Racela.
“But we're happy. We're thankful to the Lord for allowing us to taste victory today, despite that third-quarter barrage."
[RELATED STORY: Jake Figueroa, Kent Pastrana pace league-leading NU, UST as UAAP Players of the Week]
Erolon finished with 18 points and five assists in the win that stopped his squad's three-game slide for a 6-7 mark.
Manzano added 15 points and nine rebounds while Montebon had 10 markers on 4-for-8 shooting.
Phillips struggled with a 1-for-12 clip to finish with seven points he topped with 15 rebounds.
Vhoris Marasigan topscored for the Green Archers with 15.
Adamson collides with Ateneo next for its last elimination-round assignment Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Meanwhile, DLSU aims to boost its semis chances in the first of its last two elims games against fierce rival University of the Philippines in a finals rematch Saturday, November 22, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.