The Adamson University Lady Falcons delivered a clutch performance, conquering the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles with a hard-fought 77-71 victory on Sunday to secure a crucial playoff spot for the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball tournament’s last Final Four berth.
Led by an inspired outing from guard Elaine Etang, the Lady Falcons improved to a 7-7 record, cementing solo fourth place and simultaneously extinguishing the semifinal hopes of rival De La Salle University for the third consecutive year.
The game at the SM Mall of Asia Arena was a tale of shifting tides. After a strong Adamson start, Ateneo countered fiercely, launching a 15-6 run in the third quarter to seize control, 52-44.
However, the Lady Falcons showcased their resolve, responding with a devastating rally of their own that flipped the script, pushing their lead to 67-52 early in the final frame.
The Blue Eagles refused to quit, mounting a desperate late-game charge fueled by back-to-back triples from Camille Malagar and Gracie Batongbakal, slicing the deficit to a precarious two points, 73-71, with just 56.8 seconds left.
But Adamson kept its composure, locking down on defense and converting key possessions to seal the momentous victory.
Adamson head coach Jed Colonia praised his team’s execution against a well-coached opponent.
“What I was saying at halftime was that if we just do our job properly, we will really let go,” Colonia said. “We fought back and checked [Ateneo’s] adjustments so we could counter them.”
Etang steered the Lady Falcon offense with a team-high 19 points, alongside five assists. She was ably supported by Cheska Apag, who chipped in 18 points, six rebounds, and three steals, while Nigerian center Kemi Adeshina added a powerful 14 points and seven boards.
Ateneo’s Kacey Dela Rosa put up a double-double effort with 18 points and 13 rebounds, but it was not enough to prevent her team from slipping to an 8-5 record.
With the win, the Lady Falcons now sit one spot ahead of Far Eastern University (6-7). Adamson will claim the outright fourth and final ticket to the semifinals if FEU loses its final assignment against the University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday. Otherwise, Adamson and FEU will face off in a winner-take-all playoff for the right to enter the Final Four.