The Adamson Baby Falcons weathered a late rally to put away the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, 69-67, yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
Jose Sabandal topscored for 23 points for the Baby Falcons as they registered their seventh win 11 games in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior basketball tournament.
Adam Doria added 10 with Lorenz Capulong to help keep the Baby Falcons in the hunt for a Final Four semifinals seat.
Doria’s triple in the last 3:44 may have handed the Baby Falcons a comfortable 11-point edge down the stretch, 69-58.
But foul trouble, and the big plays of Mark Nonoy, Philip Benzonan and John Bismarck Lina allowed the Tiger Cubs to come up with a big rally.
A 7-0 run touched off by Benzonan’s jumper off Nonoy’s defensive rebound allowed the Tigers Cubs to move within five points, 64-69.
It got scarier when Baby Falcons cager Lorenz Capulong missed two charities in the last five seconds.
But the Baby Falcons managed to win back the ball and waste the time away after Benzonan unloaded a trey that allowed UST to threaten by two in the remaining four seconds.
Nonoy had 27 points for UST, which fell behind at 5-6.
Earlier, Xyrus Torres banged in 24 points for the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws in their 99-82 smothering of the University of the East Junior Warriors.
Brian Sajonia chipped in 22 points for the Baby Tams, who stayed in second spot at 8-3.
The scores:
First Game
FEU 99—Torres 24, Sajonia 22, Abarrientos 15, Barasi 10, Bautista J. 9, Balaga 8, Tolentino 5, Ona 2, Alforque 2, Bradley 2, Anonuevo 0, Armendez 0, Bautista S. 0, Bagunu 0, Libago 0, Sicat 0.
UE 82—Dichoso 31, Sullano 19, Flores 14, Alinsoring 5, Agbas 5, Almacen 4, Tan 2, Tajonera 2, Gatdula 0, Lima 0, Santos 0, Villarta 0.
Quarter scores: 28-13, 52-31, 71-57, 99-82.
Second Game
Adamson 69—Sabandal 23, Doria Ad. 10, Capulong 10, Manlapaz 9, Prodigo 6, Doria An. 6, Santos 3, Barcelona 1, Tulabut 1, Dominguez 0, Engbino 0, Hanapi 0, Nitura 0.
UST 67—Nonoy 27, Lina 13, Amador 8, Benzonan 6, Manabat 5, Casingcasing 3, Estrella 2, Oliva 2, Marzan 1, Dolendo 0, Dumlao 0, Barranco 0.
Quarter scores: 19-19, 33-35, 61-51, 69-67