The defending champions, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, secured the twice-to-beat advantage as they defeated the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 79-75, in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, November 19.

At the end of the third quarter, the Blue Eagles were still leading the game, 54-48. Fortunately for the defending champions, Gerry Abadiano and Francis Nnrokua sparked a 17-6 run to take a five-point lead, 65-60, with 4:35 remaining in the game.

“Securing the twice-to-beat advantage is big for us. Seeing the team bounce back from the first half, where I believe we lacked energy, towards the second half. The whole team, mas nagkaroon ng energy, so we just have to keep being consistent sa whatever we did nung second half,” said Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde.

Abadiano finished the game with 18 points, while Nnoruka recorded a double-double performance of 17 points and 15 rebounds.

For the Blue Eagles, Jared Bahay led the team with 21 points, while Kymani Ladi contributed 17 points and eight rebounds. Shawn Tuano finished the game with 10 points.

Earlier that day, the Adamson University Soaring Falcons kept their Final Four hopes alive after escaping the De La Salle University Green Archers, 61-60.

In the dying moments of the game, the Green Archers had a 5-0 run to close the gap to 60-61, but Earl Abadam missed the potential game-winner three-point shot, which led to a win by the Soaring Falcons.

“We’re just happy to be still alive. We made it clear in the dugout that if your want to live another day, you have really no choice but to win the game. Sabi namin, in the end it will just boil down to whoever wants it more,” said Soaring Falcons head coach Nash Racela.

John Erolon led the Soaring Falcons with 18 points and five assists, while Cedrick Manzano finished the game with 15 points and nine rebounds. Mathew Montebon added 10 points.

For the Green Archers, Vhoris Marasigan had 15 points while EJ Gollena contributed 10 points.

16

Gerry Abadiano led the Fighting Maroons in terms of scoring with 18 points, 16 of which he scored in the fourth quarter alone. This is the Fighting Maroons’ sixth-straight twice-to-beat incentive in the UAAP.

“Lagi lang sinasabi sa amin ni Coach Gold na huwag kaming tumigil. Even may challenges kami nung first half at lumamang sila nang malaki, ang nasa isip lang namin continue lang sa paglalaro, keep on pounding lang,” said Abadiano after the game.

Aside from Abadiano and Francis Nnoruka, another duo showed up when the team needed them most: Jacob Bayla and Sean Alter, who took charge in the third quarter. Before playing for the Fighting Maroons, Bayla and Alter already knew each other when they played at the 2023 National Basketball Training Center in the United States.

“Just knowing that the team needs that energy every game, someone to bring the fire, that’s what Sean and I can do,” Bayla was quoted as saying by Tiebreaker Times. “We go way back to the NBTC days. Knowing him and having that fire from both of us  – that’s what the team needed.”

Alter added, “Jacob and I go way back. We’re both from the US, but we really got close at NBTC. I was excited when I heard he was coming to UP. We hang out off the court, we eat together, and I feel that really strengthens our chemistry on the court.”

Although the four players were instrumental in their victory, Alter reminded everyone that 16 players on the team share the same goal.

“Our team is 16 players deep. When some players aren’t providing energy, it’s our job to bring it. I was just doing my role as a big man – rebounding, dunking when I can. That’s what I did today.”’

.04

With .04 seconds left in the match, Earl Abadam tried to steal the victory with a three-point jumpshot, but unfortunately missed that, which ultimately gave the Soaring Falcons the victory.

After the game, Abadam defended his decision to shoot the ball in the dying seconds of the game.

“I just wanted to win. No game plan there in the dying seconds, we just wanted to win, and that play I thought was the best way. I saw that we were able to get a stop in the last possession of Adamson. I knew that we did not have much time – we were only down by one – and as soon as I got the ball, I was in the same spot that I made my previous three-pointer, and I had no hesitation. It did not just go in,” he was quoted as saying by Tiebreaker Times.

Before taking that shot, Abadam drilled a three-pointer, which trimmed the lead to just a point, 60-61. Although he missed his second triple attempt, Abadam remained confident in his game.

“They said good shot. Good shot. I knew that I just made a big shot, and coach [Topex] just said that I just made that three-pointer, you can take it again. It just did not go in,” he said. “It’s not over. We know that we have two more games to play against really tough teams. This is not the end. We know that we still have a chance to make the Final Four, we just have to learn and go back and review and come back prepared.”

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, De La Salle University Green Archers, Adamson University Soaring Falcons, Far Eastern University Tamaraws, and Ateneo de Manila University are still in the running for the last two spots in the final four.