Archers oust Falcons from semis race, boosts own bid

MANILA, Philippines -- Reigning champion La Salle beefed up its Final Four bid, eliminating Adamson with an 84-69 win in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball Saturday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

A blazing 48-26 propelled the Green Archers to a coast-to-coast ride for a 7-5 card, tied with host Far Eastern University at third to fourth place with only two games to go in the two-round eliminations. 

National U and UP, both at 9-3, are already in the semifinals, but the path to a Top-2 finish plus the twice-to-beat bonuses are still open for the said squads.

With their eighth defeat and the Green Archers' seventh win, the Soaring Falcons (5-8) crashed out of contention as they could only to go to as many as six wins. 

La Salle got the job done behind Jacob Cortez, who is slowly but surely regaining his fine  from a knee injury in the first round with 15 points, four rebounds, four steals and two assists.

Luis Pablo backstopped him with 14 points and seven rebounds, JC Macalaladg had 12 points and eight rebounds while rookie sensation Joaquin Tovera had 11 points, three rebounds and three assists in a lopsided affair where La Salle led by as many as 25 points.

Ray Allen Torres (14), Manu Anabo (14) and Monty Montebon (11) led Adamson, which never led in the match en route to another Final Four exit in a new era since the graduation of King Falcon Jerom Lastimosa, now a PBA pro.