FilOil: Adamson completes comeback vs Perpetual

MANILA, Philippines — Ryan Monteclaro sank two game-winning free throws as Adamson University completed a miracle comeback in the last minute to edge University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 79-78, in the 2013 FilOil Flying V Premier Cup Wednesday, May 29.

Down 8 with less than two minutes left, the Soaring Falcons unleashed a stunning 11-2 run to shock the Altas, who looked like they were cruising to an easy victory.

Jericho Cruz, Rodney Brondial and Ingrid Sewa conspired in a 6-0 blast that pulled Adamson close to 76-75 before Juneric Baloria scored off a putback to make it 78-75 with 13.7 seconds left. 

Cruz was then fouled and hit both his charities and Altas’ Nosa Omorogbe turned the ball over in the ensuing play, giving the Falcons a chance to win the game.

With the possession on their hands, Cruz drove into the lane, inviting the Perpetual defense before dishing the ball to Monteclaro, who was fouled after a nice fake on Chris Elopre with 3.3 ticks left on the clock.

Monteclaro calmly sank his freebies and Adamson stole the leather in the final play to complete the turnaround and barge into the quarterfinals with a 5-2 record.

“I told Cruz to kick out when the defense sagged on him and that’s what he did,” said Monteclaro. “I got fouled and I did not want to disappoint the Adamson crowd so I made the two free-throws.”

The Falcons held the lead early in the game before an unsportsmanlike foul on Cruz for head-butting Baloria changed the game’s complexion, with Perpetual bringing an 11-point lead heading into the fourth period.

Cruz paced Adamson with 27 points while big men Sewa and Rodney Brondial had 15 points and 9 rebounds apiece.

The San Marcelino-based squad played without their coach Leo Austria, the 2013 ABL Coach of the Year who was in Thailand handling the San Miguel Beermen.

Omorogbe had 27 markers and 14 boards for the Altas. – Rappler.com