FIVE Falcons scored in double figures as Adamson soared past UST, 96-83, on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, dimming the Growling Tigers’ chances of a Final Four slot.
Adamson clinched an automatic playoff berth with a 9-3 win-loss record while UST dropped to 5-7.
Tigers will need to win their two remaining games and hope that the UP Maroons and the FEU Tamaraws lose their last two assignments to forge a three-way tie for fourth place.
UST held a slim one-point lead at the half, 40-39, but the Falcons opened the third canto with a 15-0 run to erect a 54-40 advantahe.
The Tigers tried to stage a comeback late in the payoff period but Simon Camacho’s teardrop with 2:44 ticks left put the game out of reach.
“‘Yung mga little things, ‘yon ang hindi namin na-execute doon sa second half, especially ‘yong press break,” Tigers head coach Aldin Ayo said.
Renzo Subido led UST with 21 points and five assists while Marvin Lee added 18 markers. Rookie CJ Cansino had another double-double with 17 markers and 12 boards.
Sean Manganti collected 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Camacho had a career-high 15 markers.
Jerrick Ahanmisi, Papi Sarr and Jerom Lastimosa added 13, 11 and 10 markers each.
The Tigers will play their penultimate game of the elimination round against UP on Nov. 10, Saturday, 4 p.m. at the same venue. I.R.L.S.
