ADAMSON stopped the late rally of Ateneo to take the 68-58 victory in the UAAP Season 82 Women's Basketball Tournament Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
League top-scorer Mar Prado finished with a double-double of 28 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, and two steals to lift the Lady Falcons to a three-way logjam at second at 4-2 with UST and FEU.
Prado's brilliance helped Adamson erect an 18-point lead, 55-37, heading into the final frame, but Ateneo isn't one to quit that easily, with Boom Moslares cutting the deficit down to just eight, 55-48.
Lucky for the Lady Falcons, Prado and Novie Ornopia restored order in the endgame to secure the bounce back win.
Adamson sorely missed the presence of coach Ewon Arayi, who was serving a one-game suspension after being ejected in its game against La Salle last Saturday.
"Nakaka-pressure po siya," admitted Prado. "Pero sila coach Darren [Torre] po and yung ibang coaches po namin, ginampanan po nila yung work ni coach Ewon."
Kat Araja added nine points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while Ornopia and Jass Catulong both had eight in the victory.
The skid continued for the Lady Eagles as they dropped to their fourth straight game and fell to 2-4.
Hazelle Yam led Ateneo with 17 points, while Zoe Chu added 10 points and 12 rebounds. Alyssa Villamor scattered nine points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists but shot just 4-of-16 from the field -- including 1-of-9 from distance.
The Scores:
ADAMSON 68 -- Prado 28, Araja 9, Ornopia 8, Catulong 8, Bilbao 4, Anticamara 4, Dampios 4, Balane 2, Flor 1, Tandaan 0, Dumelod 0, Dela Cruz 0, Ea. Alaba 0, Ei. Alaba 0.
Quarters: 18-10, 37-24, 55-37, 68-58.
