ADAMSON University defeated Ateneo, 58-52, in a preview of their stepladder knockout match, wrapping up the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball elimination round on a high note Saturday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Elaine Etang and Cris Padilla helped the Lady Falcons build a 15-point lead early in the fourth quarter, 54-39.

However, Ateneo mounted a 10-0 run, cutting the deficit to 54-49 with 1:48 remaining.

Despite the Blue Eagles’ rally, Etang and Kem Adeshina sealed the win for Adamson, pushing their lead to 58-49 with 31 seconds left, ending Ateneo’s four-game winning streak.

Etang finished with 9 points, while Adeshina contributed 8 points and 5 rebounds. Novie Ornopia led Adamson with 10 points and 5 rebounds. The win secured Adamson’s third-place finish in the elimination round with a 9-5 record. The Lady Falcons will now face the winner of the Ateneo vs. Adamson stepladder game in the semifinals.

Adamson coach Ryan Monteclaro praised the win as key for building momentum and confidence going into the next phase. “We’re aware that we’re going to play Ateneo again, so this is good preparation,” he said.

Ateneo, which ended the elimination round in fourth place with an 8-6 record, was led by reigning MVP Kacey Dela Rosa, who posted 15 points and 19 rebounds. Teammates Junize Calago and Sarah Makanjuola added 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas (UST) secured second place with a 12-2 record after dominating De La Salle, 70-52, in the day’s earlier game. UST’s Tacky Tacatac led the charge with 14 points in the first half, and Kent Pastrana added 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. UST’s dominant defense stifled La Salle, which managed just 3 points in the opening quarter.

The Lady Archers, led by Luisa San Juan’s 15 points, ended the elimination round in sixth place with a 4-10 record. In the final game of the season, University of the Philippines (UP) routed University of the East (UE), 65-48, with Camille Nolasco scoring 14 points in her best performance of the season.

The stepladder semifinals will feature Adamson battling Ateneo for the right to face UST in the next round.

The Scores:

Second Game:
UST 70 – Tacatac 14, Pastrana 10, Santos 9, Danganan 9, Sierba 7, Maglupay 6, Reliquette 5, Ambos 2, Amatong 2, Bron 2, Soriano 0, Pineda 0, Serrano 0, Pescador 0.
DLSU 52 – San Juan 15, Sario 9, Binaohan 8, Sunga 7, Dela Paz 6, Mendoza 3, Santos 2, Dalisay 1, Paraiso 1, Bacierto 0, Camba 0.
Quarterscores: 20-3, 39-23, 57-38, 70-52.

Third Game:
AdU 58 – Ornopia 10, Etang 9, Adeshina 8, Apag 6, Padilla 6, A. Alaba 5, E. Alaba 5, Manlimos 3, Mazo 2, Limbago 2, Agojo 2, Meniano 0, Bajo 0, Delos Santos 0, Cortez 0, Trabado 0.
Ateneo 52 – Dela Rosa 15, Calago 13, Makanjuola 11, Villacruz 6, Oani 3, Batongbakal 2, Eufemiano 2, Cruza 0, Cancio 0, Olivenza 0, Lopez 0, Angala 0, Aguirre 0.
Quarterscores: 19-13, 33-28, 47-39, 58-52.

Fourth Game:
UP 65 – Nolasco 14, Pesquera 14, Ozar 13, Maw 9, Tapawan 4, Solitario 3, Mendoza 2, Jimenez 2, Vingno 2, Sauz 1, Quinquinio 1, Lozada 0, Bariquit 0, Barba 0.
UE 48 – Ganade 17, Ronquillo 10, Lacayanga 6, Kone 5, Vacalares 4, Buscar 4, Lumibao 2, Dalguntas 0.
Quarterscores: 13-9, 34-20, 53-37, 65-48.