No doubt in Joshua Yerro’s mind that Adamson would come out victorious in the back-and-forth affair against NU in UAAP Season 87.
Adamson’s Joshua Yerro electrified the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday as he converted on the game-winning tip with 0.3 seconds left to highlight the Soaring Falcons’ escape of NU, 60-58.
While many would assume that the game would go to overtime with the amount of seconds left in regulation, Yerro had the firm belief that it was already theirs for the taking.
In a timeout after Jolo Manansala’s clutch basket to tie the game at 58-all, Yerro had a talk with inbounder Cali Calisay where he stated his certainty that the game wouldn’t go to extra session.
[Related: Joshua Yerro drills buzzer-beater as Adamson escapes NU in UAAP Season 87]
“Masaya [ako] kasi pumasok. Thank God, dahil sa Kanya kaya pumasok,” said Yerro on his incredible game winner.
“Before pa lang, [nung] nag-time out, sabi ni coach Gilbert [Lao] na stay [focused] lang kami kasi baka mag-extra five minutes. Pero sabi ko kay Calisay, wala nang five minutes to. Tiwala ka lang, papasok to.”
Yerro’s heroics came after Cedrick Manzano’s previous go-ahead basket with 3.3 remaining was nullified by Manansala.
Adamson and NU engaged in the exciting affair that saw both teams go back-and-forth, including five deadlocks and four lead changes.
Despite the Bulldogs looking primed to take the victory with their 38-29 lead at halftime, rookie Anthony Fransman led an Adamson team effort to chip away at the lead as they tied the game with one quarter remaining, 43-all.
Even as neither team wanted to let up, it was Lao’s game-winning plan that helped the Soaring Falcons get the last laugh. Adamson head coach Nash Racela praised his coaching staff for being able to come up with the play.
“It was coach Gilbert that drew that play. That’s the dynamics of our coaching staff eh. So that’s the responsibility of coach Gilbert. So when we were actually playing defense, we were hoping that if they ever make a basket, we still have time. So he was already preparing himself for that [sequence],” Racela said.
While Yerro was hailed game hero, it was a collective effort that helped the Soaring Falcons improve to 3-2 for Season 87, with Monty Montebon leading the scorers with 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
Yerro, meanwhile, had 11 points, five rebounds, one assist, and three steals. Fransman chipped in with eight markers, six boards, two dimes, and two steals as well.
NU, for its part, leaned on Jolo Manansala in the losing effort as he finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, and two assists.
The Bulldogs, though, continued to free fall in standings now with a 1-4 slate.
Adamson faces a litmus test next as the Falcons challenge the unbeaten UP Fighting Maroons on Saturday, September 28, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
NU will lock horns with the UE Red Warriors also on Saturday as the Bulldogs face the team that recently upset defending champions La Salle.