Adamson snatches a win over La Salle on a buzzer beater

MANILA, Philippines (Aug 15, 2011) - Adamson squandered a 22-point lead early on needed a buzzer-beating jumpshot from designated gunner Alex Nuyles to win over La Salle, 68-66, with 0.8 seconds left in the game clock.

It was a close escape for the Falcons as they got their sixth win in eight outings in UAAP Season 74 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 6-2 Nuyles eluded La Salle’s Oda Tampus with a spin move then unleashed a jump shot that found nothing but net with 0.8 second left.

“I’ve been asking coach Leo (Austria) to have the last shot for our team. I really worked hard for it and I’m glad I delivered when it was finally given,” Nuyles (14 points, nine rebounds, five assists) said in Filipino.

Nuyles capped his heroics in the next play, foiling La Salle’s attempt at a “catch-and-shoot” to seal the win for the Falcons. La Salle dropped to 4-4 in a triple tie with Far Eastern U and University of Santo Tomas for third.

Adamson through a hot 4-of-6 three-point shooting, shackled the Archers to only one field goal in the second period for a 24-2 quarter that catapulted them to a 35-20 initiative. They enjoyed as much as a 22-point bulge, at 52-30, in the third.

But Almond Vosotros fired 12 of his 18 points in the payoff period to lead La Salle to a mighty run that forced a 66-66 standoff with 15.8 ticks left.

“It was very scary. It’s fortunate we got a 20-point cushion and Alex rose to the occasion in this test of character for us,” said AdU coach Leo Austria. “I think we need a couple of games like these in order to handle such situations come the playoff.”

Earlier, University of Santo Tomas, a squad that coach Pido Jarencio described as a team on the rise, banked on the big games of Cameroonian Karim Abdul and Jeric Fortuna to beat University of the Philippines, 77-70.

Abdul, who has virtually cleared eligibility after submitting the required red ribbon certification from the Philippine consulate to Nigeria to the UAAP board, banged in 21 points to go with 11 rebounds, three assists and a block as UST tied Far Eastern U at fourth (4-4).

Fortuna pumped in 15 points, highlighted by two triples, a long two-pointer, and a layup off a crossover move in the fourth that gave UST a fresh 73-67 lead after UP fought back from 16-points down to go within two.

“Actually we’re on a momentum right now, our game is on the way up going into the second round,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio.

“The team is focused on the mission ahead - to pile up as many wins to reach the Final Four - our players are healthy and Karim is now dominating.”

Mike Silungan paced UP with 19 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and five blocks while Mike Gamboa added 18, all on three-pointers.