Adamson University rallies to beat National-Nazareth School in Game One of high school basketball finals
Game on Wednesday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
4 p.m. — NUNS vs AdU (Finals, Game 2)
ADAMSON University (AdU) inched closer to its first title in over three decades by carving out a 77-71 comeback win over National University-Nazareth School (NUNS) in Game 1 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 high school boys basketball finals over the weekend at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Vince Reyes dropped 17 points, including nine in the Baby Falcons’ fourth-quarter avalanche to turn the tide on the Baby Bullpupus for a 1-0 lead in the short best-of-three series.
Adamson, then under the tutelage of now agent Charlie Dy, last won the UAAP juniors title in 1993 and it will have a chance to snap that long drought on Wednesday at the same venue for a potential clincher after a runner-up finish to Far Eastern University-Diliman last season.
The Baby Falcons, who topped the eliminations with an impressive 13-1 slate, did it by erasing a 49-59 deficit late in the third with a searing 17-2 rally capped by Mr. Reyes’ lay-up for a 66-61 lead.
The wards of coach Mike Fermin never let go of the lead from there on, neutralizing the repeated rallies of NUNS, a UAAP high school dynasty with 11 finals appearances in the past 12 seasons.
Mr. Reyes drew ample support from Gene Carillo (13), Earl Medina (12) and JC Bonzalida (11) to make up for the struggle of other ace cager Justine Garcia with only three points on a dismal 1-of-8 clip.
Nigerian big man Collins Akowe collared 26 points, 11 rebounds and four assists while Mac-Mac Alfanta also hauled down a double-double of 11 points and 11 boards for NUNS, which dethroned FEU in the Final Four. — John Bryan Ulanday
The Scores:
AdU 77 — Reyes 17, Carillo 13, Medina 12, Bonzalida 11, Esperanza 6, Sajili 6, Umali 4, Garcia 3, Abayon 3, De Jesus 2, Perez 0, Tumaneng 0.
NUNS 71 — Akowe 26, Alfanta 11, Yusi 9, Tagotongan 8, Palanca 6, Cartel 5, Nepacena 2, Usop 2, Solomon 2, Reroma 0, Barraca 0, Herrera 0.
Quarterscores: 16-13, 37-39, 51-59, 77-71.