MANILA, Philippines -- Hoping to keep their dimming Final Four chances alive, University of the East (UE) leaned on James Martinez in the clutch.
And the sweet-shooting Martinez responded well, nailing back-to-back three-pointers late in the pay-off period to help the Warriors score a king-size 71-63 upset of second-running Adamson University on Saturday in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.
Martinez poured 9 of his game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, including a dagger three with 7:08 remaining to shatter a 59-all deadlock and fuel the Warriors’ decisive endgame breakaway for good.
“Our life this season is on the line. We have to fight to stay alive. We just have to do our best. This is the only way to do it,” UE coach Lawrence Chongson said after the Warriors claimed their third win in 10 starts to move up at 6th place.
UE’s unexpected conquest of Adamson erased the stigma of its bitter overtime loss against FEU in its previous match while snapping the two-game winning streak of the Falcons, who now dropped to 7-3.
Playing with a sense of urgency, the Warriors jumped the gun on the unsuspecting Falcons early in the contest, racing to a 36-30 lead at the half.
The Falcons though seized the third frame with a prolonged 17-6 attack to give Adamson a 47-42 cushion heading into the pay-off period.
But the Warriors marched into the pay-off period with a 7-point binge to knot the count at 56-all as Adamson suddenly went cold on the offensive end, making just a single field goal in a three-minute stretch.
With the Adamson zone slowly clamping down on chief gunner Paul Lee and Ken Acibar, Martinez took the offensive slack at the seven-minute juncture of the fourth, launching consecutive triples to push the Warriors upfront, 62-60.
Back-to-back baskets by Acibar, including a highlight-reel alley-hoop from Lee at the turn capped the Martinez-inspired 10-4 run that further hiked the Warriors’ lead.
A Roider Cabrera three in the ensuing play shoved Adamson within, 63-66, but a Martinez split off Will Stinnett’s fifth foul and floater with 1:15 left sealed the deal for the Warriors.
Acibar backstopped Martinez with 15 points and 16 rebounds to make up for the absence of big man Sam Razon, who is out for the rest of the season after suffering from an ACL injury.
Back-up guard Lord Casajeros chipped in 14 points on 3-of-4 shooting from three-point range to offset a scoreless afternoon from Raphy Reyes.
Jan Colina tallied 14 points to lead Adamson while Eric Camson and Lester Alvarez added 13 and 11, respectively.
The Scores:
UE 71 – Martinez 16, Acibar 15, Casajeros 14, Lee 8, Rosopa 4, Zamar 4, Tagarda 4, Noble 4, Duran 2, Enguio 0, Reyes 0.
ADU 63 – Colina 14, Camson 13, Alvarez 11, Nuyles 6, Galinato 6, Lozada 4, Stinnett 3, Etrone 3, Cabrera 3, Manyara 0, Cañada 0.
Quarter scores: 16-15, 36-30, 49-53, 71-63.
Anthony Divinagracia, UAAP Sports
Subject: Warriors ambush Falcons 
Sun Aug 22, 2010 9:59 am
