ADAMSON, moving on without its injured guard Jerom Lastimosa, pulled off a 63-54 win over Far Eastern University to wheel back in the Final Four contention in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Falcons overcame a seven-point fourth quarter to snap a three-game losing skid and move up to 4-5 card.

Hoping to reprise last season’s late Final Four run, Adamson kept with reach of defending champion Ateneo, which was playing University of the Philippines last night, in the race for the No. 4 spot.

The school announced that Lastimosa suffered a full ACL tear on his left knee in his season debut last Wednesday, prematurely ending his checkered five-year collegiate basketball stint with the Falcons.

“I received the medical record last night, confirming that si Jerom ay may full tear sa ACL,” said Adamson athletic director and UAAP Board of Managing Director Fr. Aldrin Suan, noting that the MRI result only arrived on Saturday night.

As his team is making a big push in the last five elimination round games, Lastimosa is rallying the Falcons to reach the Final Four, and if things go their way, in the Finals.

“Lagi ako nagpapasalamat sa Adamson community kasi andyan sila lagi naka-support. Through ups and downs, win or lose,” said Lastimosa.

In the women’s division, University of Santo Tomas moved in a tie with UP in second place with a wire-to-wire 93-67 victory of La Salle.

The Tigresses are now level with the Fighting Maroons at 7-2, making the race for the second twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four too close to call.

Ateneo later opened a three-game lead in the race for the last Final Four slot with a 81-66 tripping of UE.

Raising their record to 6-3, the Blue Eagles gained the needed separation over their closest pursuers the Lady Archers, who are now at 3-6, as they chase for a second straight Final Four appearance.

Adamson coach Nash Racela wanted his troops to polish their endgame after FEU made a big run after trailing by as much as 19 points.

“We’re thankful that we won, but we look for consistency in our game. I think in the fourth quarter medyo we failed again. We were the ones leading pero kami pa yung na-rattle,” said Racela.

Joshua Yerro and Joem Sabandal led the Falcons with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

“Yun nga kailangan namin yung consistency, so we need to work on that, lalo na ako, dapat hindi ako nagko-commit ng turnovers, so crucial yun para sa amin kailangan matuto ako doon,” said Sabandal.

The Tamaraws failed to follow up their stunning reversal of the Blue Eagles last Wednesday, dropping to 3-6 slate.

LJay Gonzales, whose buzzer-beating triple carried FEU to a 62-61 victory over Ateneo, finished with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals while Jorick Bautista added 13 points and three assists.

Tacky Tacatac, who had a turnover-free game, logged 17 points, five rebounds and five assists, Bridgette Santos added 12 points, five boards and five assists while rookie Rachelle Ambos produced quality minutes for UST with 11 points and seven rebounds.

“I think this is what we wanted,” said long-time Tigresses coach Haydee Ong. “The scoring output for UST is distributed with the whole team. Our defense today was not consistent as I’d want but the important thing is we got the W today.”

First-round MVP leader Kacey dela Rosa (22 points, 11 rebounds), Sarah Makanjoula (10 points, 22 boards) and Jhaz Joson (10 points, 12 assists) provided double-double numbers, while Junize Calago was also solid for Ateneo with 15 points, seven rebounds and five steals.

“We started off very flat I think we came in very relaxed but we were able to turn it up nung second half so really happy kahit papaano we got this win,” said Blue Eagles coach LA Mumar.

The scores:

First game

AdU (63) – Yerro 11, Sabandal 10, Calisay 9, Hanapi 5, Montebon 5, Erolon 5, Manzano 4, Ramos 4, Magbuhos 3, Ojarikre 3, Barasi 2, Colonia 2, Barcelona 0, Canete 0.
FEU (54) – Gonzales 18, Bautista 13, Torres 9, Bagunu 5, Tempra 4, Faty 2, Ona 2, Sleat 1, Beato 0, Buenaventura 0, Competente 0, Montemayor 0.
Quarterscores: 18-7, 40-25, 56-40, 63-54