By Ricky Manliguis
QUEZON CITY— In the battle
of the birds of prey, it was Adamson who reigned.
Dawn Ochea buried the
game-clinching jumper with 1.9 second left as the Falcons battled back from a
10-point fourth-quarter deficit to come away with a 62-61 squeaker over Ateneo
to cap off Saturday action of the UAAP Season LXXIX basketball tournament at
the Araneta Coliseum.
The six-foot-five skipper
scored his only two points of the match as AdU picked up its second win against
a solitary loss, while sending the Blue Eagles to its second loss in three
matches.
Trailing 50-60 in the
middle of the fourth quarter, the San Marcelino-based team fought back, as
Robbie Manalang fired back-to-back triples to tie the ballgame at 60 inside the
final two minutes.
Chibueze Ikeh scored on a
split from the charity stripe for a 61-60 Ateneo advantage with 1:29 left, setting the stage for the Ochea
dagger.
He caught the ball from an
inbounds pass from Jonathan Espeleta at the right corner, before turning around
and taking the shot over the outstretched arms of Vince Tolentino.
Thirdy Ravena had one last
crack at the basket, but missed a shot for the win at the buzzer.
Manalang topscored with a
game-high 15 points, while Jerrick Ahanmisi and Papi Sarr both had 13 markers.
Anton Asistio registered 12 points for the Eagles, which scored a measly five fourth-quarter points. Kris Porter
had eight, while Mike and Matt Nieto each contributed seven markers.
The Eagles missed the services of guard Aaron Black, who injured his left foot in the team's last outing against FEU.
The scores:
Adamson 62 — Manalang 15,
Ahanmisi 13, Sarr 13, Manganti 6, Espeleta 4, Mustre 4, Bernardo 3, Tungcab 2,
Ochea 2, Camacho 0, Pasturan 0, Chua 0, Ng 0, Paranada 0.
Ateneo 61 — Asistio 12,
Porter 8, Mi. Nieto 7, Ma. Nieto 7, Tolentino 6, Ikeh 5, Mendoza 5, Wong 4,
Verano 4, Ravena 3, Babilonia 0, Go 0.
Quarterscores: 21-15;
35-35; 46-56; 62-61.
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