MANILA, PHILIPPINES – A jam-packed Mall of Asia Arena witnessed another overtime on Sunday, as the University of the Philippines fought back the gritty Adamson University with the game-winning two free throws of Bright Akhuetie.
With a much anticipated game on hand, the debuting Kobe Paras was on a diesel start. Bright Akhuetie and David
Murrell’s aggressiveness banked the early points of the game for the Fighting Maroons.
Several fouls were called by the referees for both teams in the early start. A 9-2 rally gave the Falcons a 2-point lead against the Maroons, 20-18.
The Falcons managed to maintain an 18-point deficit to end the 1st half of the game. Leading the team, Val Chauca garnered 17 points, with three three-pointers and the prominent off-balance buckets.
UP’s defense on the start of the second half made a huge shock on the Soaring Falcons as they were only able to produce nine points on the 3rd quarter, compared to the 27 points banked by UP. The already-warmed-up Paras fired up the Maroons’ offense with his lay-ups and consistent free throws.
UP stringed some points to catch up and tighten the game. Juan Gomez De Liaño, who brought the fire back to his squad after scoring five straight points in the opening frame of the 3rd quarter. The huge UP crowd went wild as Juan Gomez De Liaño, hot-handed, finished the 3rd quarter with a two-pointer, 50-52.
An 'x-factor' for the Falcons, AP Manlapaz went all out on offense to grab a 60-57 lead. Chauca came back to a three-point clutch, while Jerom Lastimosa’s two free throws gave a 73-70 cushion. A series of alternate lay-ups from both sides led to four deadlocks in the 4th quarter.
With 17.5 seconds left, Paras made a perfect three-pointer set-up for Javi Gomez De Liaño, which tied the game at 73-all and an overtime.
Adamson started the game with a single free throw shot of Chauca. Manlapaz brought the house down during the overtime as he counted five consecutive points, 80-73.
Turnovers against the Soaring Falcons happened on the crucial part of the OT and UP took advantage. Akhuetie scored the last two free throws after clipping a foul from Lenda Douanga. He manned the ring for the Fighting Maroons finishing with 18 pointers and 18 rebounds.
UP 83 - Paras 20, Akhuetie 18, Ju. Gomez de Liano 12, Murrell 6, Rivero 6, Spencer 6, Webb 6, Manzo 4, Ja. Gomez de Liano 3, Tungcab 2, Gob 0, Jaboneta 0, Mantilla 0, Prado 0.
ADAMSON 82 - Chauca 21, Manlapaz 17, Douanga 14, Lastimosa 13, Ahanmisi 7, Magbuhos 4, Camacho 2, Flowers 2, Mojica 2, Fermin 0, Yerro 0, Zaldivar 0.
QUARTER SCORES: 20-18, 41-25, 50-52, 73-73, 82-83 (Photo courtesy of The Adamson Chronicle and Photography By Aleckine Troy Rada & Ser Christian Albert I. Capoquian)