MANILA, Philippines – Robbie Manalang was bloodied but unbowed when he made his exit from the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday evening, just a few hours after the curtains dropped on his brief UAAP career.

The sweet-shooting guard sported a cut beneath his left eye after Adamson University's Final 4 showdown against defending champion De La Salle University, a mark of how much he fought to try to extend his collegiate basketball stint.

Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Despite Manalang's best efforts, the Falcons bowed to the Green Archers, 82-75. It marked the second straight season that they were eliminated by La Salle in the semifinals.

"Obviously, it's a tough loss," said Manalang, who had a team-high 17 points in a losing effort. "It's heartbreaking, especially since this is my last game as a Falcon."

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He scored 12 of his 17 points in the first half, and helped the Soaring Falcons build a 15-point lead in the third period. However, they were shut down by La Salle's defense in the final frame: Adamson scored only 12 points in the payoff period, while La Salle exploded for 28.

Manalang's lone field goal of the fourth quarter was a triple that brought Adamson to within one, 70-71, with 3:23 left, but they gave up eight straight points to La Salle after that and never threatened again.

"Being in my last game, I didn't care if I make mistakes," said Manalang. "I'm just playing as hard as I can, trying to help the team the way I can, just trying to stay aggressive."

"That's what I'm good at, getting my shot off and trying to make good plays for my teammates so I just tried to do that to the best of my ability but we came up short," he added.

He admits that the Falcons became "very emotional" at the dugout after the game, especially as they truly believed that they could pull the rug out from under La Salle on Saturday. Indeed, they seemed to be on their way to an upset, before they fell apart in the final quarter.

"But that's life," Manalang said. "Sometimes, things don't go your way."

The diminutive guard, who endeared himself to Adamson fans with his remarkable shot-making, remains proud of what he has achieved with the Soaring Falcons. In his two seasons with the team, they made the Final Four each time.

"I wish I could give Adamson five years," said the 24-year-old Manalang. "But the two years that I had were unforgettable."

"I don't have a lot of experience, but to make the Final Four both years, it's great," he added. "We wanted more, but it didn't happen that way. But I still love my team and my teammates, and I'm so proud of them."

Manalang plans to continue his basketball career in the Philippines, having applied for the PBA D-League Draft. He also intends to keep track of Adamson's campaign in the UAAP Next season.

"They are going to bounce back," he predicted. "I will be their cheerleader next year."

Manalang is one of three Falcons to exit the team after Season 80, along with Dawn Ochea and Terrence Mustre.

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)