Action between Adamson and UPIS in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Tournament, February 20, 2025 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media

MANILA -- Defending champion Adamson University got an assist from Ateneo de Manila University to gain sole possession of fourth place in the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Coming off a humbling 71-49 loss to rival National University-Nazareth School last Sunday, the Baby Falcons quickly regained their footing with a dominant 84-67 victory over the University of the Philippines Integrated School Fighting Maroons.

Adamson also benefited from University of the East's stunning 64-56 loss to Ateneo, which snapped the Blue Eagles' two-game skid, as well as De La Salle Zobel's 86-60 defeat to National University Nazareth School earlier in the day.

READ: NU-Nazareth boys punch ticket to Final 4; FEU-D downs UST

These results allowed the Baby Falcons to break the tie for fourth place, improving to an even 5-5 record.

"Ang mentalidad ngayon ng team is one game at a time. Home stretch na ito 'eh… Malaking boost ito sa amin kasi yung last four namin, lahat ng teams na makakalaban namin ay nasa contention. It's a good stepboard for us going to our next four games," Adamson head coach Mike Fermin said, as his squad braces for crucial matchups against Final Four contenders La Salle Zobel, Far Eastern University-Diliman, University of Santo Tomas, and UE.

Adamson turned a slim 45-43 third-quarter lead into a commanding 63-52 cushion after an 18-9 surge, led by Gilas Youth trio Allen Perez, Earl Medina, and Mark Esperanza, along with timely contributions from Sahir Sajili.

The Baby Falcons continued their onslaught in the fourth quarter, as a Medina three-pointer, a Jireh Tumaneng layup, and a triple from Gabe de Jesus stretched their advantage to 75-58 with 6:36 remaining—effectively sealing their bounce-back win.

Perez recorded a season-high 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting, adding three rebounds. Medina, who overcame an early ankle injury, tallied 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists.

Esperanza contributed 11 points, six assists, four rebounds, and one steal, while Sajili notched a double-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block.

Meanwhile, Ateneo compounded UE's woes, handing the Junior Warriors their second straight heartbreaking loss following their buzzer-beating defeat to UST last Sunday.

"Yung mga bata, hindi bumigay sa fourth quarter which is tulad ng sinabi ko sa inyo before, 'yon naging story ng season namin. Dito sa game na ito, hindi kami bumigay. May mga times na hindi kami makascore, pero they were mentally tough to pull through with the victory," Blue Eagles head coach Ford Arao said.

Action between Ateneo and UE in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Tournament, February 20, 2025 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media

After a crucial steal and layup from Louie Bual tied the game at 55-all with 4:30 left, Jay-m Leal stepped up with back-to-back inside baskets to give Ateneo a 59-55 edge with 1:36 remaining.

UE trimmed the gap to 59-56 after a split from Lance Sabroso at the free-throw line, but Ateneo found an unlikely hero in TJ Delos Santos, who converted a clutch and-one layup to push the Blue Eagles ahead 62-56 with 1:20 left.

The Junior Warriors had chances to close the gap, but Sabroso and Bual missed key attempts down the stretch, allowing Chris Urbina to ice the game and secure Ateneo's second win of the season.

Leal finished with an impressive double-double of 15 points and 18 rebounds, along with one assist, one steal, and one block. Alfonso Tan added nine points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Despite struggling offensively (nine points on 3-of-15 shooting), Urbina contributed four assists and three rebounds, while Delos Santos provided nine points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

For UE, Martin Almanza led the way with 16 points—all in the first half—along with three rebounds, three assists, and one steal.

Edry Alejandro registered 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one block. Ethan Aguas added seven points, seven rebounds, and two steals, while Bual and Drei Lorenzo chipped in six points each.

UPIS, yet to win in 10 games to fall out of contention, was led by Bruce Tubongbanua, who dropped 25 points, eight rebounds, and one steal.

Rocco Melicor and Jhustin Hallare chipped in 12 points each.

The Scores:

Adamson vs UPIS

AdU (84) - Perez 16, Medina 12, Esperanza 11, Sajili 10, De Jesus 9, Tumaneng 9, Decatoria 8, Umali 6, Jenodia 3, Abayon 0, Caspe 0, Matilliano 0, Garcia 0, Penafiel 0.

UPIS (67) - Tubongbanua 25, Melicor 12, Hallare 12, Egea 8, Gomez de Liano 5, Coronel 3, Uvero 2, Poquiz 0, Rosete 0, Gepitan 0, Pascual 0.

Quarterscores: 11-16, 33-30, 63-52, 84-67.

Ateneo vs UE

Ateneo (64) - Leal 15, Tan 9, Urbina 9, Delos Santos 9, Kallos 6, Lagdamen 5, Aquino 3, Ymasa 3, Asistio 3, Lacsamana 2, Kaw 0.

UE (56) - Almanza 16, Alejandro 11, Aguas 7, Bual 6, Lorenzo 6, Sabroso 4, Bana 4, Diaz 2, Lagat 0, Timbol 0, Cuevas 0, Chua 0.

Quarterscores: 17-16, 33-35, 49-48, 64-56.