06/11/2025
Torres’ heroics not enough to escape FEU in overtime thriller; AdU stays at fourth
Heartbreak struck the Adamson Soaring Falcons as they fell to the FEU Tamaraws, 70-73, in a pulsating overtime duel in the second round of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, last November 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Ray Allen Torres delivered a game-high 24 points, drilling four crucial triples and scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to keep Adamson in the fight.
After trailing through three quarters, Torres and Cedrick Manzano stepped up for Adamson, stringing together key baskets in the fourth to force an extra quarter at 64-64.
Mathew Montebon sparked life into Adamson with a clutch fadeaway jumper, lifting the Soaring Falcons to a two-point lead at the start of the extra period.
However, the Morayta-based squad wrested back control as Kirby Mongcopa drilled a contested shot to tie the game at 66, before Mo Konateh swatted away Manzano’s mid-range jumper on the next play.
With the game on the line, Torres sliced through three defenders and finished with a crafty layup before the two-minute mark, bringing the match to a 70-all deadlock.
Following a costly foul from OJ Ojarikre, FEU’s Janrey Pasaol drained both shots from the line, followed by Mongcopa’s clutch rejection on Montebon’s triple attempt in the closing seconds.
Adamson’s captain then went for a tactical foul, where Mongcopa missed at the line, but the Filipino-American’s game-tying three rimmed out, handing FEU its second win over the San Marcelino-based squad.
Soaring Falcons head coach Nash Racela emphasized his team’s effort and composure despite falling short in overtime.
“I don’t want to look at it na nagkulang. I think they [Adamson] gave it all. Gano’n talaga ang game. Sometimes we execute, sometimes we don’t. So it just so happened, in the end, sila [FEU] ang nakaangat,” said Racela.
Meanwhile, Manzano posted a double-double performance of 19 points and 12 rebounds to anchor the Falcons on both ends.
Following UST and Ateneo’s earlier games yesterday, the Adamson Soaring Falcons sit in a three-way tie for fourth place, looking to break it against the top-seeded NU this Saturday, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Written by: Charles David P. Sebatna
Photos by: Hebron Matthew G. Lim