NIKOLE JAVIER 

Ateneo slipped past Adamson, 66-61, to wrap up its elimination round campaign as the top seed in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Kai Ballungay delivered a double-double performance of 18 points and 14 rebounds to help the Blue Eagles hold off the Final Four-seeking Soaring Falcons. 

BJ Andrade and Ange Kouame added 13 and 12 points, respectively, to tow Ateneo to the top spot ahead of defending champion University of the Philippines.

Both the Eagles and Maroons finished with similar 11-3 records but the former took the top seed by virtue of having the superior quotient at plus-3.  

Ateneo had to hold off an 11-2 run by Adamson capped by a Cedrick Manzano layup and protect its one-point lead before Kouame fought hard inside the paint to extend its lead by three. 

However, Adamson, who had a couple of opportunities to tie the game but couldn’t knocked any attempts from beyond the arc before Andarde was sent to the line and drained his two freebies to ice the game. 

The Soaring Falcons, on the other hand, who absorbed a 7-7 slate will be facing the La SalleArchers for a playoff to determine who will complete the cast of the Final Four on Sunday, Dec. 4.

La Salle came back from a 9-point deficit in the fourth to survive the upset-minded University of Santo Tomas, 77-72.

Like Adamson, La Salle also finished with a 7-7 card.

The scores:

First Game

LA SALLE 77 ‒ Nelle 25, Cortez 13, Nonoy 10, Phillips 8, Macalalag 6, Austria 5, Estacio 3, Abadam 2, Buensalida 2, Manuel 2, Nwankwo 1, Winston 0.

UST 72 ‒ Mantua 17, Cabanero 16, Calimag 10, Faye 9, Pangilinan 5, Manalang 4, Laure 4, Manaytay 4, Lazarte 3, Duremdes 0, Garing 0, Escobido 0.

Quarters: 21-27, 37-42, 55-59, 77-72.

Second Game

ATENEO 66 — Ballungay 18, Andrade 13, Kouame 12, Koon 7, Padrigao 6, Ildefonso 3, Gomez 3, Chiu 2, Lazaro 2, Garcia 0, Quitevis 0, Daves 0.

ADAMSON 61 — Manlapaz 22, Lastimosa 10, Douanga 7, Hanapi 5, Flowers 5, Manzano 4, Yerro 4, Sabandal 2, V. Magbuhos 2, Colonia 0, Jaymalin 0, Barasi 0, Fuentebella 0, Barcelona 0, Torres 0, W. Magbuhos 0.

Quarters: 17-16, 33-27, 49-41, 66-61.