ADAMSON University skipper Joshua Yerro aimed at the basket with fire in eyes in the clutch against University of the East last night. Yerro’s three-pointer from the right corner found nothing but the bottom of the net, to the delight of the San Marcelino faithful—they’re back in the semifinals.
Showing they wanted it more, the Soaring Falcons hacked out a 68-55 victory over the Red Warriors in their playoff duel for the last Final Four slot in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Yerro’s booming trey off a pass from Cedrick Manzano pegged a 65-51 count in the last 1:34 before Adamson held its ground the rest of the way.
Manzano notched a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, on top of four assists for the Falcons while Matthew Montebon chimed in 13 markers, three boards, and six dimes.
Yerro and Royce Mantua also combined for 15 as fourth-ranked Adamson forged a Last Four showdown with defending champion and twice-to-beat La Salle on Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
No. 2 University of the Philippines, also armed with a win-once incentive, will take on third seed University of Santo Tomas in the other semis battle.
Jack Cruz-Dumont carried the fight for UE with 15 points and four caroms while Rainer Maga had 10 and two.
Nigerian big man Precious Momowei finished with 10 markers and 11 boards or the Warriors but left the game for good at the 3:25 mark of the fourth after a bad fall from a collision with Montebon.
John Abate also contributed 10 for UE, which failed to return to the Final Four despite a 5-2 start. – With Abby Toralba
