Jerom Lastimosa fired a triple with 5.5 seconds to power Adamson University to a 64-63 victory over National University and keep its Final Four hopes alive in Season 85 University Athletic Association of the Philippines basketball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lastimosa, who only scored seven points and five rebounds for the Soaring Falcons, made the shot despite the outstretched arms of Steve Nash Enriquez.
Sensing the game was slipping away, Enriquez took a pass from Michael Malonzo from inside and launched a triple of his own that came short.
With the win, Adamson has moved up to fourth place with a 7-6 win-loss record and put pressure on De La Salle University, which was defeated by University of the East in overtime, 80-72, in the third game.
It also relegated NU to third with a 9-5 slate and will have to hope Ateneo de Manila University, drops its last two games in the elimination round for a chance of a playoff for the semifinal bonus.
Falcons head coach Nash Racela was proud of how the 5-foot-10 guard never gave up and how Congolese Lenda Douanga was able to carry the team.
“I know Jerom is struggling today and that was obvious because NU adjusted. But yeah he made the most important shot of the game and before it happened, Lenda (Dounga) was able to carry us through,” Racela said.
Douanga led Adamson with 16 points, including two threes and six rebounds, while Didat Hanapi had nine points.
Enriquez led NU with 18 points.
In the second game, Far Eastern University reasserted its mastery over University of Santo Tomas after a 77-62 rout.
The Scores:
First game
ADAMSON (64) — Douanga 16, Hanapi 9, Manlapaz 8, Lastimosa 7, Yerro 4, Sabandal 4, Fuentebella 3, Jaymalin 3, Colonia 2, Barcelona 2, Manzano 2, Barasi 2, V. Magbuhos 2, Flowers 0, Torres 0.
NU (63) — Enriquez 18, Figueroa 13, John 10, Malonzo 7, Clemente 5, Tibayan 4, Yu 2, Palacielo 2, Manansala 1, Galinato 1, Minerva 0, Mahinay 0, Tulabut 0.
QUARTERS: 18-14, 33-36, 53-48, 64-63.
Second game
FEU (77) — Gonzales 15, Sajonia 11, Torres 10, Sleat 9, Sandagon 8, Alforque 7, Tchuente 7, Bautista 3, Gravera 3, Anonuevo 2, Songcuya 2, Ona 0, Tempra 0, Bagunu 0, Celzo 0, Guibao 0.
UST (62) — Lazarte 13, Faye 10, Manaytay 10, Garing 9, Laure 7, Manalang 5, Pangilinan 5, Duremdes 3, Escobido 0, Mantua 0, Herrera 0.
Quarters: 24-17, 40-33, 56-45, 77-62.
Third game
UE (80) — Remogat 24, K. Paranada 13, Stevens 12, Villegas 10, N. Paranada 6, Gilbuena 5, Pagsanjan 4, Sawat 4, Payawal 2, Tulabut 0, Alcantara 0.
LA SALLE (72) — Nonoy 14, Austria 10, Nwankwo 10, Nelle 8, Cortez 8, Macalalag 8, Quiambao 7, B. Phillips 4, Estacio 3, Abadam 0, Winston 0.
QUARTERS: 16-27, 36-33, 50-51, 68-68, 80-72.
