Manalang caught fire from beyond the arc with a 5-of-7 clip from three-point range while Fontanilla delivered clutch hits, scoring five big points including the booming three in the last 19.3 seconds.

“Si Josh, kinakabahan ako kanina. Nagpapaagaw. Pag kailangan tong batang to, alam ko na. Sa kanya na yun. Thank you Josh. Thank you Paul (Manalang),” said UST coach Jinino Manansala. 

Leading by only 2 points, 72-70, with less than 2 minutes left in the final frame, Fontanilla showed the way as he scored back-to-back baskets that extended the Growling Tigers’ advantage to a two-possession affair, 74-70.

Adamson’s Joshua Yerro had the chance to trim the deficit back into single digits but failed to convert his three-point attempt.

Fontanilla then sealed the win with a tough triple to put the Soaring Falcons away for good with only 19.3 seconds left remaining. 

Team captain Manalang spearheaded UST with 15 points while Fontanilla finished with 10 points off a pair of treys, along with four boards and three assists that carried the team to a 2-2 record. 

Bryan Santos added nine points and eight rebounds, while Nic Cabanero chipped in eight points including three boards, two dimes, and two steals.

Meanwhile, Jerom Lastimosa’s near-triple-double effort of 16 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists went for naught as Adamson absorbed its second straight defeat and sank to 1-3. 

The Scores:

UST 79 – Manalang 15, Fontanilla 10, Santos 9, Cabanero 8, Concepcion 7, Herrera 6, Ando 6, Manaytay 5, Mantua 5, Yongco 3, Gomez de Liano 3, M. Pangilinan 2, Samudio 0, Canoy 0.

ADAMSON 72 – Lastimosa 16, Douanga 16, Magbuhos 8, Peromingan 7, Zaldivar 6, Sabandal 5, Yerro 4, Colonia 3, Hanapi 3, Manzano 2, Maata 2, Jaymalin 0.

Quarters: 19-16, 45-41, 64-58, 78-72.