Blue Eagles stay afloat, oust Falcons

(Updated, 6:33 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines -- Ateneo kept its Final Four hopes alive after kicking Adamson out of semifinal contention, 72-61, in their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball clash Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Dom Escobar led the four Blue Eagles in double figures with 14 points, five rebounds and two assists. Waki Espina and Kymani Ladi chipped in 13 markers apiece, while Shawn Tuano had 11.

The Blue Eagles thus rose to 6-7 in the standings, putting themselves in prime position for a playoff for the fourth and final semis spot. Adamson, on the other hand, exited with a 6-8 card.

Ateneo broke the game open in the middle quarters, outscoring their opponents 50-32 in the second and third frames as their lead ballooned to as much as 26 points, 65-39, after an Escobar jumper.

But Adamson went down swinging, slicing the deficit to half, 56-69, with a massive 17-4 run capped by a pair of free throws by AJ Fransman.

However, a booming triple by Espina with 2:46 left kept the Falcons at bay, 72-56.

Adamson's Matty Erolon answered back with a trey of his own in the next possession, but both teams could not buy a bucket until a late deuce by Austin Ronzone.

By then, it was already too late.

Erolon stood tall for Adamson with 24 points, five rebounds and two assists. Ray Allen Torres chipped in 16 markers.

The Final Four picture will now boil down to the final game day on Wednesday, November 26.

That day, the now 8-5 University of Santo Tomas will take on the Far Eastern Universiity Tamaraws. Ateneo will then face rival La Salle, which is currently the fourth seed with a 7-6 record.