MANILA – The Adamson Lady Falcons flirted with disaster first before pulling off a 64-50 victory over Far Eastern University (FEU), sweeping the Lady Tamaraws in the 72nd UAAP women’s basketball Finals on Tuesday.

Adamson leaned on MVP Analyn Almasan to pull their acts together as it claimed Game Two before a jampacked crowd at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

Almasan scored seven of her game-high 19 points in the pivotal fourth period where the Lady Falcons outscored the Lady Tams, 14-4, to clinch their first title since 2005.

The Lady Falcons were on the verge of collapse when the Lady Tamaraws tightened their defense in the third canto and pulled ahead, 44-41.

Jocy Positos scored 7 points during the Lady Tam’s gigantic third quarter run, grabbing the lead since the early minutes of the first period.

The Lady Falcons, however, regained their bearings in the final quarter and trapped the Lady Tam’s with a stringent defense.

“Hindi namin ine-expect na magcha-champion kami. Ang talagang nagdala sa amin ay teamwork, sipag at tiyaga,” said a jubilant Adamson coach Emilly Vega.

Not even typhoon Ondoy, which heavily damaged their gym in Adamson, could stop them from winning the crown they also won in 2004 and 2005.

The damage caused by Ondoy forced the Lady Falcons to rent the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym for their practice for Game Two.

Almasan, who averaged 16.5 points and 16 rebounds in the Finals, was named as series MVP. By Alder T. Almo

The Scores:

AdU 64 – Almasan 19, Buendia 14, Bernardo 9, Sandel 8, Tecson 5, Roque 5, Ortega 4, Mangahas 0.

FEU 50 – Lim 13, Palmera 11, Yazon 10, Positos 7, Borja 4, Astrero 4, Cabochan 1, Tiu 0, Supnet 0, Soriano 0, Sicat 0.

Quarters: 16-11, 32-28, 41-44, 64-50.