University of Santo Tomas needed just 30 more seconds to grab what could be a slump-ending victory over the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
Unlucky for the Growling, the Falcons grit was too great to overcome.
Adamson climbed out of an eight-point hole with 30 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, where Matty Erolon’s game-winning 3-pointer towed the Falcons over UST, 97-96, in their UAAP Season 88 game Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Ray Allen Torres powered Adamson with 20 points, two rebounds and an assist off the bench, while Monty Montebon and Ced Manzano had 19 markers apiece for the San Marcelino-based squad.
With the Falcons keeping itself alive with less than a minute remaining after a Torres deuce, Gelo Crisostomo sank a triple that would have been the dagger with 30 seconds to go.
Montebon and Torres, though, capitalized on missed free throws by UST, as they hit big shots to close the gap.
A late 3-pointer by Montebon tied things up and sent the game to overtime.
In the extra period, both teams traded buckets, before free throws by Collins Akowe, including a split from the line, provided the Tigers a 96-94 advantage.
Akowe’s second miss from the stripe was picked up by Mark Llemit, giving UST a chance to melt the clock.
After Crisostomo tried to beat the clock with a triple, Adamson had an opportunity to tie or go for the win.
And with UST’s defense not settled, the Falcons went to Erolon, who hoisted up a 3-pointer. He sank it, plus the foul, giving Adamson a 97-96 lead with about two seconds to go.
Erolon, then, intentionally missed the extra free throw, and Padrigao three the ball for a last-second heave, but it missed everything, icing Adamson’s improbable win.
Erolon had nine markers for Adamson. His game-winning 3-pointer was his first make from beyond the arc as he shot a 1-of-3 clip from that area.
Akowe powered UST with a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds to go with two assists and two blocks. Llemit chipped in 18 markers and 10 boards, while Kyle Paranada and Padrigao had 14 points each.
The Tigers shot a combined 17-of-27 from the free throw line.
Adamson won its fourth straight game, while UST dropped its third straight match. The two teams are now holding similar 5-4 win-loss records.