Falcons drag Warriors into knockout match

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson took care of business against Ateneo, 69-55, and dragged University of the East into a playoff for the last semifinals ticket in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

With their season on the line, the Falcons went full throttle in the payoff period, dodged early elimination and caught the skidding Warriors at fourth place with similar 6-8 slates.

Adamson takes the court on Wednesday versus UE, with five straight losses to end the prelims, in a win-or-go-home duel for the right to complete the Final Four cast and challenge no less than reigning champion and No. 1 seed La Salle (12-2).

The other bracket is already a lock featuring second-ranked, last season’s runner-up and host University of the Philippines (11-3) against No. 3 Santo Tomas (7-7) in its Final Four return after five years.

Royce Mantua, Manu Anabo and Matt Erolon were a lethal troika with 14, 13 and 11 points, respectively, as the Falcons avenged their 60-51 first-round defeat against the Eagles when it mattered the most.

Super rookie Jared Bahay (14) led the way for Ateneo in a surprising early exit at 4-10 after six straight finals appearances and four championships under the tutelage of master mentor Tab Baldwin.