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| Jonathan Espeleta finally had a breakout game after helping Adamson tighten their grip at third. |
PASAY CITY -- Adamson University maintained their grip in third place after finding the long range to choke National U, 90-77 in the UAAP Men's Basketball tournament Sunday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Falcons of Franz Pumaren thought that they have the game in their bag after the first three quarters after they fired an early blitz in the opening frame, then put the Bulldogs into submission from downtown.
However, NU fought back in the fourth to ignite a late comeback try but Adamson made sure of its shots in the endgame to move closer to a guaranteed postseason spot, improving to 8-4 in the process while sending their victims near the brink at 4-7.
The sophomore duo of Jerrick Ahanmisi and Jonathan fired 16 points each, combining for 8/15 from beyond the arc.
Adamson broke away from a tight start in the first three minutes, pulling away with a 15-0 run courtesy of Jonathan Espeleta en route to a twenty-point lead at the close of the opening frame.
Then the Falcons took flight in the second period and led by as much as 27, after settling for a 22-point lead after Espeleta uncorked a half-court heave at the horn.
Adamson barely won the third by two points and were up by 22, 74-52 when JJ Alejandro and company ignite a late fightback that pulled them to within nine.
But NU failed to break that barrier as Ahanmisi fired a corner jumper with 1:16 left to shut down the Bulldogs' final resistance.
THE SCORES
Adamson 90 – Ahanmisi 16, Espeleta 16, Sarr 14, Manalang 14, Pingoy 7, Manganti 7, Lojera 5, Camacho 4, Mustre 3, Bernardo 2, Zaldivar 2, Ochea 0, Hill 0, Paranada 0, Chua 0
NU 77 – Alejandro 18, Diputado 14, Yu 8, Mosqueda 7, Tibayan 6, Morido 6, Abatayo 5, Aquino 4, Cauilan 3, Joson 2, Gaye 2, Rangel 2, Lastimosa 0, Bartlett 0
Quarter Scores: 32-12, 57-35, 72-48, 90-77
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