MONTY Montebon drilled in the game-winning three-pointer in the final 2.7 seconds as Adamson staved off elimination with a 63-61 win over University of the East in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

With the season on the line, Montebon rose to the occasion, as the 20-year-old rookie unleashed a desperation corner triple over graduating Red Warriors skipper Abdul Sawat that gave the Falcons a lifeline.

Adamson moved in a tie with defending champion Ateneo in fourth place at 7-7, forcing a playoff for the remaining Final Four berth.

The survivor of the do-or-die match will play University of the Philippines, which took the No. 1 ranking in the Final Four after posting a wire-to-wire 79-57 win over National University.

The Fighting Maroons ended with a 12-2 record to bag the twice-to-beat bonus, while the Bulldogs dropped to third at 10-4.

The result allowed La Salle to annex the remaining twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four and face NU in the other pairing. The Green Archers defeated the Blue Eagles, 72-69, on Saturday night to complete a second round sweep with a 11-3 card.

This is the second successive year that Adamson will figure in a playoff for the final spot, having defeated La Salle last season to advance in the Final Four.

“I was just in the zone during that play,” said Montebon. “When I got it, I didn’t know who was behind me. So I just did a step-back corner (three). I thought I missed because I just threw it up and fell down but luckily it went in.”

Cedrick Manzano led the Falcons with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals while Montebon also had 16 points and seven rebounds.

“I like how it ended,” said Adamson coach Nash Racela. “Walang script dun ah. UE really made it tough for us. Some would say really chamba. I won’t deny that. Mukha namang chamba talaga. I think from the very beginning that’s what we emphasized to our players that there are no freebies in this world.”

“You have to earn everything. You have to take it if you want it. Today we thak UE for allowing us to do that. Talagang pinahirapan kami. They didn’t give it to us on a silver platter.”

The Red Warriors finished the season with a 4-10 record in sixth place.

Noy Remogat flirted with a triple-double as he produced 16 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists to lead UE.

In the women’s division, La Salle capped its rebuilding season with a 58-45 conquest of UE.

The Lady Archers ended up with a 7-7 record in fifth place after winning five of their seven games in the second round.

Adamson closed its first season under coach Ryan Monteclaro with a 71-59 of Far Eastern University 71-59.

The Lady Falcons finished the eliminations with a 4-10 record in sixth spot, while the Lady Tamaraws ended the season in seventh place with a 3-11 record.

The Lady Warriors went winless for the second consecutive season.

The scores:

First game

AdU (63) – Montebon 16, Manzano 16, Magbuhos 10, Yerro 8, Hanapi 5, Ojarikre 3, Erolon 3, Barcelona 2, Colonia 0, Ramos 0, Barasi 0, Anabo 0.
UE (61) – Remogat 16, Momowei 15, Cruz-Dumont 13, Galang 5, Lingolingo 3, Tulabut 3, Gilbuena 3, Maglupay 2, Sawat 1, Langit 0, Alcantara 0, Spandonis 0.
Quarterscores: 16-16, 37-29, 45-47, 63-61

Second game

UP (79) – Lopez 13, Diouf 11, Cansino 11, Felicilda 9, Torculas 7, Cagulangan 6, Gonzales 6, Alarcon 4, Pablo 4, Belmonte 3, Torres 3, Briones 2, Abadiano 0, Fortea 0, Alter 0, Gagate 0.
NU (57) – Figueroa 15, Manansala 10, John 7, Yu 6, Baclaan 3, Lim 3, Yu 3, Malonzo 2, Enriquez 2, Jumamoy 2, Palacielo 2, Gulapa 2, Padrones 0, Parks 0, Galinato 0, Delos Reyes 0.
Quarterscores: 23-13, 42-30, 58-45, 79-57