NATHALIA Prado had 20 points and 11 rebounds as Adamson University turned back University of the Philippines, 67-57, to end its first round campaign on a bright note in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Jamie Alcoy also shone for the Lady Falcons with 15 points, five steals, five boards and four assists.
Adamson University has won its last two contests to tie Far Eastern University in fourth place at 3-4, a game ahead of fierce rivals De La Salle and Ateneo (2-5).
Defending champion National University swept the first round with a 7-0 card, while University of Santo Tomas and University of the East are holding second and third spots with 6-1 and 5-2 cards, respectively.
The Lady Maroons, who trailed by as much as 18 points, remained winless in seven starts.
Meanwhile, defending champion University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University stayed unscathed to claim the first two women’s semifinal berths in the UAAP beach volleyball tournament late Saturday at the Sands SM By The Bay.
Cherry Rondina and Caitlyn Viray overwhelmed University of the Philippines’ Diana Carlos and Ayel Estrañero, 21-7, 21-15, and Adamson University’s Bern Flora and Chrislyn Uy, 21-9, 21-14, to give the Tigresses a 5-0 card.
The Lady Tamaraws also picked up their fifth straight win, as Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza rolled the Lady Falcons, 21-12, 21-14, and University of the East’s Judith Abil and Angelica Dacaymat, 21-10, 21-7.
De La Salle and the Lady Maroons moved closer to completing the semifinal cast after ending their Day 3 assignments in joint third at 3-2.
The Lady Spikers’ Tin Tiamzon and May Luna turned back the Lady Warriors, 21-17, 21-16, and needed three sets to edge National University’s Roma Doromal and Audrey Paran, 17-21, 21-19, 20-18.
Estrañero and Carlos rebounded from an earlier loss to UST to beat Ateneo’s Bea de Leon and Jules Samonte, 21-17, 21-11, allowing UP to move closer to its first semis appearance since the pair of Aia del Mundo and Pau Genido made it to the post-season in 2012.
In the men’s division, the Bulldogs’ Bryan Bagunas and James Natividad upended the Falcons’ Paolo Pablico and JP Yulde, 21-13, 21-18, to stay perfect in four contests.
The Growling Tigers’ KR Guzman and Anthony Arbasto prevailed over the Blue Eagles’ Marck Espejo and Karl Baysa, 21-14, 21-13, while the Tamaraws’ Jude Garcia and Richard Solis topped the Green Spikers’ Carlo Sendo and Wayne Marco, 21-12, 21-16, to raise their records at 3-1.