By Maxine Louise Lagman
MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) dispatches Adamson University (AdU), 81-60, to advance to its sixth consecutive UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball Finals appearance on Wednesday, December 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Up by eight in the third frame, Dave Ildefonso further stretched Ateneo’s lead with eight consecutive points, followed by a coordinated attack from Ange Kouame and Chris Koon, to give the Blue Eagles a 27-point lead heading into the fourth, 63-36.
Ateneo kept their momentum up with Sean Quitevis opening the final frame with a triple for a 30-point advantage, 66-36, 9:14 left in the game.
Jed Colonia answered back with the Soaring Falcons’ first basket in nine minutes. Jerom Lastimosa made their final score in the 7:27 mark, as Ateneo kept them at bay.
“We had our best offensive performance of the year. I think when you get some time to prepare and your opponent doesn’t have much time and they were playing on heart, they were playing on Nash’s (Racela) brain, and all of those things they have a ton of,” said Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin.
Forthsky Padrigao led Ateneo with 16 points and five assists, while Koon chipped in 15 markers, and five assists in the win. Kai Ballungay had 13 points, while Ildefonso finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.
With the win, Ateneo will face defending champion University of the Philippines who escaped National University in the earlier game at the Finals.
Game One of the best-of-three championship series will be on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
On the other hand, the Soaring Falcons ended their UAAP Season 85 campaign. Lastimosa was the lone Adamson player in double figures with 10 points
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