UP’s late game comeback falls short against Adamson

Despite a late game rally, the University of the Philippines succumbed to the Adamson Soaring Falcons 54 – 57, in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Basketball Tournament, Sunday, October 27, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.

It was anyone’s game right from the get go, with as much as two deadlocks and six lead changes in the first quarter alone, but at the end of the first half, it was the UP Fighting Maroons that had the upper hand, leading at 32-30.

Come second half, their lead went up to six, 38-32, after a free throw for Rizza Lozada from a Kim Limbago technical foul, but the Lady Falcons quickly retaliated. With less than three minutes left in the third quarter, Oluwakemi Adeshina sparked a 10-0 run with Crisnalyn Padilla and Elaine Etang, to take the lead, 38-42. The Falcons outscored UP by three in the third frame, ending the quarter with 42-43.

In the 4th period, UP managed to stay close behind, but two consecutive layups from Etang and Adeshina put the Soaring Falcons up by 6, 53-47, at the 04:12 marker. UP continued to fight back, with Achrissa Maw and Kaye Pesquera putting up two layups to cut the deficit to two, 53-51, with 2:31 remaining in the game.

Adamson’s Jam Meniano missed a crucial inside shot that could have extended their lead further, and the Lady Falcons committed a 8-second violation, along with a Cheska Apag foul, which allowed UP to bring the deficit to one, after two successful free throws from Pesquera, 55-54, with 16.7 seconds to go.

With six seconds left on the clock, there were some crucial missed free throws by Adamson’s Etang and Kim Limbago that opened the door for the Maroons to come back, but UP’s Erika Jimenez turned the ball over as the San Marcelino squad took the win, inching closer to a Final Four berth.

UP led in rebounds, with 50 against Adamson’s 47, but it was the latter who capitalised on the boards, turning them into 15 points versus UP’s 5. The Maroons also committed more turnovers, 33-23, which Adamson took advantage of, scoring 28 points from it versus the former’s 17.

Etang led the charge for Adamson, with 22 points, five steals, four rebounds, and one assist, while Adeshina contributed 15 points, six rebounds, and one assist.

Meanwhile UP’s lone double-digit scorer was Rizza Lozada, with 13 points and seven rebounds, with Pesquera with nine points, two assists, and five rebounds, and Achrissa Maw with nine points, five rebounds, and one assist.

The UP Fighting Maroons (3-6) aim to improve their record this Wednesday, when they go against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, (5-5) who are currently one place above them at fourth, on October 30, 12NN at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

On the other side, the Adamson Soaring Falcons (7-3) look to further strengthen their final four campaign, when they face the UE Red Warriors, (1-8) on Wednesday, October 30, 2PM at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Scores:

Adamson (57) – Etang 22, Adeshina 15, Agojo 5, Apag 3, Mazo 3, Padilla 3, Alaba 3, Meniano 2, Limbago 1, Ornopia 0, Cortez 0, Bajo 0, Alaba 0.

UP (54) – Lozada 13, Pesquera 9, Maw 9, Ozar 8, Bariquit 5, Jimenez 5, Vingno 2, Sauz 2, Tapawan 1, Mendoza 0, Nolasco 0.

Quarterscores: 13-14, 30-32, 42-43, 57-54.