Adamson dumps Ateneo, foils Blue Eagles sweep

Ateneo's Kirk Long (right) challenges the defense of Adamson's John Brondial in their game on Saturday at the Big Dome. Photo by KC Cruz

A lot of firsts were at stake in Saturday's Ateneo-Adamson match in the 74th UAAP men's basketball tournament.
Ateneo was gunning for the first outright finals berth and on the verge of completing the school's first 14-game elimination round sweep. Adamson, on the other hand, yearned for its first win against the Blue Eagles since 1997 while coach Leo Austria eyed his first victory against Norman Black.

In the end, it was the Falcons who managed to secure their firsts in their highly-anticipated match opposite the three-time defending champion Blue Eagles.

Adamson thwarted Ateneo's bid for an elimination sweep as the Falcons led from start to finish to beat the Blue Eagles black and blue with 62-46 margin, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ateneo never led—the only time it happened this season—as Adamson put the clamps on the Blue Eagles to arrange a Final Four instead of a step-ladder playoff where Ateneo could have enjoyed a thrice-to-beat advantage in the finals.

Adamson won for the first time in almost 14 years—29 games to be exact—after a Gherome Ejercito-led Falcons defeated Ateneo, 54-52, on September 18, 1997 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

"I don't know what to say. It's overwhelming," said Adamson coach Leo Austria, whose Falcons improved to 10-4 while Ateneo dropped its first loss after 13 straight wins.

"A lot was at stake here. We arranged a Final Four and we got the twice-to-beat advantage but more importantly, we now believe that we are capable of winning a championship. It's more than a championship for us because the drought, all of sudden, vanished," Austria said.

Adamson came back in a big way after a crucial loss to University of Santo Tomas, 74-58, last week with its victory over Ateneo secured for the Falcons a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

"I told the boys to enjoy the game, relax and don't be eager to win. After the loss to UST, it was really a blessing in disguise. All the doubts are gone," said Austria.

Alex Nuyles exploded with 21 points including 13 in the third quarter where the Falcons used a closing 11-0 run to pull away for a 50-31 advantage.

The Adamson crowd erupted even more after Austin Manyara scored on a putback dunk over Greg Slaughter to make it a 52-32 count in the fourth.

Adamson took a 5-0 lead on Lester Alvarez' lone three and a Nuyles jumper.

Kirk Long and Kiefer Ravena scored at the others end but the Falcons answered with a 7-0 spurt as the first period ended, 16-8, the first time Ateneo was held to single digits this season.

That record was quickly erased in the third period when Ateneo only scored seven points after a 27-24 Adamson halftimes lead.

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