Defending champion Ateneo defeated Adamson, 70-48, in a playoff for the fourth semifinals berth in the UAAP Season 86 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, November 22.
Jared Brown set the tone for the lopsided win as he scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half, drilling in four triples that enabled the Blue Eagles to post a 40-26 first half advantage and never looked back in the game that drew 7,088 fans.
Ateneo led by as many as 25 points multiple times and ended up with a 22-point winning margin, the widest points differential in a playoff game in the UAAP men's basketball Final Four era.
Making the semifinals for the ninth straight season, the Blue Eagles battle the top seed University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the semifinals.
The Maroons will have a twice-to-beat advantage against the Blue Eagles in the semis.
Jared Brown added four rebounds and four assists to his name while Sean Quitevis and Mason Amos chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
