By MARK REY MONTEJO
Joshua Yerro displayed steely nerves and hit a game-winning layup to lift Adamson over National University, 60-58, in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday evening, Sept. 25.
Yerro, who registered 11 points on top of five rebounds and three steals, beat the buzzer with a layup thanks to John Calisay’s alley-oop pass from the sideline to bring the Soaring Falcons to their third win against two losses.
Montebon also starred as he topscored with 15 points while Anthony Fransman added eight.
Jolo Manansala put up 15 points – including the basket that tied the score at 58-all – and nine rebounds while Jake Figueroa and Kenshin Padrones backed him up with 11 and 10, respectively, for the Bulldogs, who absorbed their third straight defeat for a 1-4 record.
The San Marcelino-based squad took the tempo early in the opening frame where they went ahead, 16-5.
But things turned around for Adamson as NU regained its consciousness and fired multiple counters in the following minutes then eventually earned the upper hand in third salvo, 38-27.
Though the momentum was on the Bulldogs’ side, Fransman and Montebon connived in the fourth as they spearheaded a 13-7 run to take a 56-50 cushion.
However, the Jeff Napa-mentored crew refused to surrender and stormed back with PJ Palacielo and Manansala’s baskets.
With 56-apiece on the scoreboard, Cedrick Manzano became a hero in the waning seconds after snagging an offensive rebound then sinking a floater as Adamson took a 58-56 lead. Yet, the game was not over there as 3.3 seconds left when Manansala answered back a floater to tie the game at 58-all.
After that sequence, Yerro boasted his steely poise after hitting a game-winner to seal the deal for Adamson.
The scores:
AdU (60) – Montebon 15, Yerro 11, Fransman 8, Erolon 5, Calisay 5, Ojarikre 4, Anabo 3, Barasi 2, Mantuan 2, Alexander 0, Ignacio 0.
NU (58) – Manansala 15, Figueroa 11, Padrones 10, Palacielo 8, Jumamoy 5, Enriquez 4, Santiago 3, Francisco 2, Yu 0, Garcia 0, Parks 0, Lim 0, Tulabut 0, Perciano 0, Dela Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 18-13, 29-38, 43-43, 60-58
