Baby Falcons survive Ateneo scare; stays afloat for Final Four
Date Posted: February 13, 2025 at 09:29 PM
The Baby Falcons kept their UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Final Four hopes alive with a nail-biting 58-57 victory over the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles on February 13 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Bouncing back from a tough loss against National University Nazareth School, Adamson evened its record at 4-4, maintaining a tight grip on the fourth spot alongside the University of the East.
Photo: UAAP Media Team
The Baby Falcons had to dig deep to overcome the Blue Eagles, securing the win through a crucial free throw and a defensive stop in the final seconds.
Despite the victory, Head Coach Mike Fermin acknowledged the team’s struggles, pointing out their inconsistency, particularly among the big men, emphasizing the need for greater production from the frontcourt while recognizing the solid contributions of the team’s guards.
With 4.8 seconds remaining, Johnrey Abayon drew a foul from Ateneo’s Renzo Gatmaitan and had a chance for a crucial and-one play. However, Zahir Sajili’s interference by hanging on the net led to an offensive violation, nullifying the potential basket. Abayon then converted only one of his free throws, giving Ateneo a last opportunity to steal the win.
Photo: UAAP Media Team
Coming out of a timeout, Jay-M Leal of Ateneo received the inbound pass but was met with tight pressure from Adamson’s Mark Esperanza, resulting in a game-sealing turnover as time expired.
Despite Allen Perez’s flawless 4-of-4 shooting for 12 points and eight rebounds, his defensive struggles against Leal, who tallied 12 points and nine boards, exposed Adamson’s need for improvement in the frontcourt.
Esperanza led the Baby Falcons with an all-around performance of 13 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals, while Earl Medina added 12 points and nine boards. Both players logged over 34 minutes on the floor.
Trailing by as much as 12 points, 12-24, in the second quarter, the Baby Falcons needed a spark. Medina spearheaded a third-quarter rally that saw Adamson outscore Ateneo 16-8, setting up a late-game push to complete the comeback.
With this hard-fought victory, the Baby Falcons remain firmly in contention for a Final Four spot as they continue their quest for back-to-back titles.
ADU 58 - Esperanza 13, Medina 12 , Abayon 12, Perez 12, Sajili 4, Umali 3, Decatoria 2, De Jesus 0, Tumaneng 0, Artango 0, Matiliano 0.
Ateneo 57 - Urbina 12, Leal 12, Lagdamen 11, Tan 9, Gatmaitan 9, Delos Santos 2, Lacsamana 2, Asistio 0, Reyes 0, Silvestre 0, Ymasa 0.
Quarterscores: 12-16, 26-33, 42-41, 58-57.
