Joshua Yerro converted the alley-oop buzzer-beater to lift Adamson University past National University, 60-58, in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Wednesday night.
Jhon Calisay threw a perfect inbound pass to Yerro for the game-winning tip with 0.3 seconds remaining as the Falcons moved up to 3-2 in the standings.
“It was Coach Gilbert Lao who drew that play so that’s the dynamics of our coaching staff. Actually, when we were playing defense, we were hoping that if ever they make a basket we still have time so Coach Gilbert (Lao) was already preparing for that,” said head coach Nash Racela, deflecting the credit to his trusted assistant.
It was a big bounce-back win for Adamson after bowing to Ateneo, 51-60 last Saturday.
Jake Figueroa, Jolo Manansala, PJ Palacielo, and Reinhard Jumamoy connived for the Bulldogs to tie the game at 56 with 34.6 seconds remaining after falling behind 50-56 with 1:40 to go.
Cedrick Manzano then answered back for the Soaring Falcons with a lay-in off a miss by Yerro with 3.3 seconds left.
Manansala, however, had one more shot in him, driving down the lane off a sideline inbound to knot the game with 0.3 seconds remaining.
Yerro, who finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and three steals, was amazed on the first buzzer beater of the season.
“Of course, masaya kasi pumasok. Thank God, dahil sakanya kaya pumasok. Before palang, nagtime out, sabi ni Coach Gilbert na stay lang kami kasi baka magextra five minutes. Pero sabi ko kay Calisay, wala nang five minutes to. Tiwala ka lang, papasok to,” said Yerro the hero.
Matthew Montebon top-scored for Adamson with 15 points on three triples, while AJ Fransman added eight points, six rebounds, and two steals.
The Bulldogs’ misery continued, absorbing their third straight defeat that dropped them to 1-4 at seventh.
Manansala led NU with 15 points and nine rebounds while Figueroa and Kenshin Padrones chalked up 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Adamson will next face undefeated University of the Philippines on Saturday, 4:30 p.m., at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
NU will seek to end its skid on Saturday as well against University of the East at 6:30 p.m.
The Scores:
AdU 60 – Montebon 15, Yerro 11, Fransman 8, Calisay 5, Manzano 5, Erolon 5, Ojarikre 4, Anabo 3, Mantua 2, Barasi 2, Ramos 0, Alexander 0, Ignacio 0.
NU 58 – Manansala 15, Figueroa 11, Padrones 10, Palacielo 8, Jumamoy 5, Enriquez 4, Santiago 3, Francisco 2, Yu 0, Garcia 0, Lim 0, Perciano 0, Tulabut 0, Parks 0, Dela Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 18-13, 29-38, 43-43, 60-58.
