The Adamson University Soaring Falcons narrowly escaped the National University Bulldogs, 68-66, on Saturday at The Mall

of Asia Arena. This is a really exciting season for the UAAP. WEre fortunate because were able to win against NU because we know NU is really deseving to win, said Coach Leo Austria, May suwerte lang talaga kami. Thank God Rono missed that. All our hard work did not go to waste. National U had a chance to steal the game after swingman Roider Cabrera missed two free throws with 14 seconds left on the clock. NU point man Robin Rono find himself wide open in the right corner, but lady luck sided with Coach Leo Austria and his Falcons, as the shot bounced off the rim and into the hands of an Adamson rebounder. Adamson U abandoned the slow pace it had played in and pumped more fuel into their offense. Reserve Don Trollano scored his only seven points of the game in the fourth to keep the Falcons afloat. The Bulldogs were within a stones throw, trailing only by a single point, 64-63, but King Falcon Jericho Cruz scored four straight points to distance themselves from the Dogs for good. Against Ateneo, I dont know what happened to us said Coach Austria, Today, everyone was so focused, everone wanted to win. Cruz tallied 31 points, five rebounds, and three assists, with 12 of those points in the third quarter to keep his Falcons in the game. Cabrera, despite his crucial misses, added 12 points on 5-9 shooting. Sewa had only six points, but hauled in 15 rebounds. The Soaring Falcons claim the third spot in the standings, boosting their record to 3-2, while the Bulldogs fall to .500 with a 3-3 record. Both teams hoops seemed to have a lid on them early, as neither of them failed to score until the 7:45 mark, when forward Jansen Rios hit a jumper off glass. The Falcons led early as they held a 6-2 edge, urging Coach Eric Altamirano to call his first time-out after Marc Agustin sank two long jumpers. Efforts from Porter and Mbe levelled the game at 8-8. Teams had a hard time getting ahead of each other, until a lay-in by Ryan Monteclaro and a post move by Sewa gave Adamson a four-point lead. Villamor dropped two after a lay-up, and both Harry Petilos and Paolo Javelona swished in triples for their respective teams as the first frame ended at 17-15. Parks was held scoreless after the first 10 minutes. The Falcons gathered to put up a substantial lead at six points with contributions from rookie Axel Inigo, Cruz, and Sewa, but Rono sliced the lead with a triple, 22-19. Cabrera and the Falcons found themselves in the drivers seat again as the 64 gunslinger scored five straight points to make it a 27-19 game. The Bulldogs chomped away at the lead, cutting it to two points after a lay-up by Javilloar capped off a 9-3 run, but reserve guard Ar-Raouf Julkipli banked in a tough lay-in to extend the Falcons lead to four at the half 32-38. Adamson owed its halftime lead to their shooting, making 50 percent of their attempts (14-28). They also eked out six points off nine NU turnovers. Cabrera topscored for his team at the half with seven points on 3-4 shooting, followed by Sewa, Rios, and Agustin with four apiece.

The Bulldogs were rebounding the ball exceptionally well, even with Sewa at the middle, as they ended the half with a 27-19 advantage on the glass. This was offset by their poor shooting, as they mostly settled for long range jumoers due to Sewas presence, making only 11 of their 32 shots (34.4 percent). Mbe paced the Bulldogs with eight points and seven rebounds, Javillonar had four, while Parks only had three at the half. Brondial widened the gap with a jumper to make it a 34-28 game, but the Bulldogs closed in after Parks and Javillonar scored five straight, 34-33. Cruz shook off Adamsons doldrums in the offensive end after netting two consecutive triples, giving his side a 40-35 advantage with just under five minutes to play in the third canto. The Bulldogs pounced for eight straight points four from Villamor to finally snag the lead at 43-40. After trading baskets, both teams were ensconced in another deadlock after a free throw by Mbe, 4646. Free throws from Parks gave them an advantage that lasted only a few seconds, as Cruz hit a last second shot to tangle them at 48-all entering the fourth quarter, with Sewa having scored only four points so far for his side. Parks looked to put the game away early, drawing the harm after a foray to the hoop. Cabrera immediately sank a triple to even the game at 51. Both teams played at a higher gear, attempting to outscore each other, albeit Adamson played without Sewa. Sewa however subbed in with a little less than four minutes remaining and scored the go-ahead basket to give the lead back to Adamson at 64-63, as Coach Altamirano pressed for time. Cruz started taking things in his own hands, scoring four straight points to distance themselves from the Bulldogs, 68-63. When all hope seemed lost, Parks drew contact on a play as the ball banked into the hoop. Parks sank the free throw as the Bulldogs crept up, 68-66. Cabrera missed both free throws in the ensuing possession and Rono found the ball in his hands for the last second shot, but the game winner had too much mustard, and the Falcons took the win home. Mbe notched 17 points and 18 rebounds in a losing effort for the Bulldogs. Two-time MVP Parks added 15 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists for NU, while Javillonar chipped in with 10 points. Parks shot only four out of 17 (24 percent). Scores: AdU Cruz 18, Cabrera 12, Trollano 7, Sewa 6, Petilos 5, Rios 4, Monteclaro 4, Brondial 4, Agustin 4, Julkipli 2, Inigo 2, Abrigo 0, Ochea 0 NU Mbe 17, Parks 15, Javillonar 10, Rono 6, Perez 5, Villamor 4, Alolino 4, Javelona 3, Porter 2, Rosario 0, Khobuntin 0, De Guzman 0, Alejandro 0 Quarter scoring: 17-15, 32-28, 48-48, 68-66