Falcons nip Bulldogs for solo 3rd

By Anthony Divinagracia Posted Jul 20th 2013

Adamson University coach Leo Austria thanked a lot of people on Saturday.

First, National University (NU)’s Robin Rono for misfiring a potential tying jumper - and a life-saving overtime session - at the horn.

Second, the rest of his wards as the Falcons survived the Bulldogs' lethal "bite-back", 68-66, to clinch solo third place in the 76^th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Jericho Cruz bucked a tentative second half and teamed up with Roider Cabrera, Don Trollano, Ingrid Sewa, and Rodney Brondial in a furious last-minute surge to erase a 59-55 NU lead and move up at 3-2.

Cruz scored 12 of his game-high 18 points in the third canto and nailed back-to-back baskets to cap a blistering 11-2 endgame salvo which pushed Adamson ahead, 68-63, for good.

Yet that final push would’ve not materialized without Trollano, who clustered five straight points, including an open triple that cut the deficit to 60-61, with 5:18 left. Then Sewa and Brondial began making the stops underneath, holding NU’s Emmanuel Mbe scoreless in the last five minutes of the contest.

“I think may swerte kami ng konti (ngayon). Thank God, (Robin) Rono missed that shot,” said a relieved Austria, who praised his wards for playing with a lot of composure and mental toughness against the offensively savvy Bulldogs.

“Everybody was so focused. Everybody was so determined to win. Everybody contributed. It’s a team effort.”

NU actually had a chance to steal the game after Ray Parks completed a three-point play and Cabrera missed two freethrows with 14.4 seconds left.

Parks then collared the loose ball and Gelo Alolino advanced it to the Bulldogs’ front court. Mbe got the leather underneath but opted to kick out to Rono, who flubbed what could have been the equalizer for the Bulldogs.  

Mbe topscored for the Bulldogs with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Parks also came up with a double-double of 13 markers and 13 boards while Javillonar added 10 points for NU which dropped to 3-3.

The scores:

ADU 68 – Cruz 18, Cabrera 12, Trollano 7, Sewa 6, Petillos 5, Rios 4, Monteclaro 4, Brondial 4, Agustin 4, Julkipli 2, Inigo 2, Ochea 0, Abrigo 0.

NU 66 – Mbe 17, Parks 15, Javillonar 10, Rono 6, Perez 5, ViIlamor 4, Alolino 4, Javelona 3, Porter 2, Rosario 0, Khobuntin 0, De Guzman 0, Alejandro 0.

Quarter scores: 17-15, 32-28, 48-48, 68-66.