MANILA – The Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons put a dent on University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers' Final Four bid with a shocking 83-64 win on Sunday in the 72nd UAAP men's basketball at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Playing with nothing to lose attitude, the already eliminated Falcons broke loose early to deal the Tigers their seventh loss in 13 games.

Leo Canuday scored seven of his personal season-high 18 points in the opening period as Adamson took a commanding 16-8 lead.

The Tigers, who needed a win to clinch the remaining semis berth, made it close in the second quarter.

The Falcons, however, doused cold water on the Tigers' fiery chase.

Seldom-used Arnold Basilio, veterans Jerrick Canada and Jan Colina combined for 15 points in the third period where Adamson outscored the league's top offensive team, 22-11.

The lead ballooned to 25, 78-53, late in the fourth period with a 10-0 tear anchored by Canuday and the high-flying Alex Nuyles.

"We just played our normal defense. I told them before the game to just enjoy," Adamson coach Leo Austria said.

The Falcons did enjoy playing solid defense that put the cuffs on the prolific trio of UST.

Dylan Ababou, Khasim Mirza and Jeric Teng were a combined 21 points on a miserable 5-of-26 shooting from the field as the high-octane offense of UST sputtered.

Canuday grabbed eight boards to go with his finest offensive game this season.

Nuyles, on the other hand, exploded for 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and a career-high four of the Falcons' 10 blocks, which is the highest in the team history in the last seven years.

It was the Falcons' first win over the Tigers since a 74-62 victory on Aug. 3, 2006, the year they last entered the Final Four.

With the loss, the Tigers (6-7) would have to win against the red-hot University of the East on Thursday. Otherwise, UST will play a knockout game with La Salle on Sept. 17 assuming the Archers hurdle the cellar-dweller National University also on Thursday to catch the Tigers at 6-8. - Alder T. Almo

The Scores:

AdU 83 – Canuday 18, Nuyles 16, Canada 14, Colina 9, Basilio 9, Lozada 5, Margallo 4, Sandoval 3, Galinato 3, Camson 2, Lapitan 0, Ruiz 0, Penalosa 0, Alvarez 0.

UST 64 – Bautista 14, Ababou 13, Afuang 11, Fortuna 10, Teng 4, Mirza 4, Camus 3, Cam 2, Aytona 2, Ungria 1, Mariano 0, Felix 0.

Quarters: 16-8, 38-34, 60-45, 83-64.

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