Falcons make it to PCCL Sweet 16

CEBU, Philippines - The Adamson University Falcons advanced into the Sweet 16 after escaping with an 84-81 win over the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars in the Cebu Zonals of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Falcons mounted a huge 60-45 lead in the third period, but the Jaguars came close at 67-69 on Jaymar de la Peña’s triple early in the final stretch. The Falcons found back their offensive bearing though in time to baffle the gallant Jaguars.

Alvin Margallo, who was furious in the closing seconds of the contest when he was downed hard to the floor by De la Peña, had 15 points for the Falcons along with Janus Lozada, while Jan Julius Colina and Eric Camson added 14 points each.

Falcons coach Leo Austria is still apprehensive despite their 2-0 lead because he is anticipating of a victory by the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters over the San Sebastian de Cavite (SSC) Baycats, who are still slugging it out as of this writing last night.

“Sana papasok kami at walang mangyaring triple tie,” Austria said.

De la Peña, who had three triples, led the 0-2 Jaguars with 18 points.

The Webmasters are still fighting for survival after losing to the Falcons the other day, 72-78, and it was too ironic ex-UC juniors finals MVP Jan Julius Colina helped in mounting pesky defense on the 6-foot-9 Webmasters’ tower June Mar Fajardo.

He and Camson finished with 14 points for the Falcons in their hard-earned yet convincing victory.

The game was still tied at 72-all in the final 46.3 seconds on Fajardo’s split charities but Roider Cabrera drilled in a back-breaking triple to give the UAAP fifth-ranked Falcons a 75-72 lead with 27.3 seconds left. Janssen Abella then missed an ill-advised triple that eventually cost UC the game.

In the Bacolod leg of the zonals, NCAA fifth-seed Arellano University Chiefs of coach Junjie Ablan and another Cebu bet University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors booked slots into the Sweet 16 phase.

The scores

Adamson (84) - Margallo 15, Lozada 15, Colina 14, Camson 14, Cabrera 10, Galinato 7, Cañada 7, Alvarez 2

USJ-R (81) - De la Peña 18, Lapiz 16, Amores 13, Alquizola 7, Duran 7, Bibera 5, Nudalo 3, Dela Rama 2 Halftime: 39-30 (GGM)   (FREEMAN NEWS)