With a 14-point third quarter lead, the DLSU Lady Archers succumbed to the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 72-68, in the UAAP Season 75 Women’s Basketball Division at the MOA arena.
With the loss, the Taft-based squad dropped to 5-3 in the standings while FEU remained unblemished at 8-0 in the game held last August 23.
Lady Tamaraw Allana Lim and Lady Archer Ara Abaca, first and sixth in the statistical points derby over the first round, led their teams with 26 points apiece.
Ahead at 54-40 with over three minutes to go in the third quarter, the Lady Archers allowed the Tamaraws to claw back and cut the lead down to four entering the final canto.
From there began a back-and-forth affair amassing four deadlocks between last year’s semi-final rivals.
The Tyrone Bautista-mentored squad had a chance to take down the league leaders, leading throughout most of the game until the Lady Tamaraws took control down the stretch, outscoring their counterparts 22-14 in the penultimate quarter.
Abaca also finished with four rebounds and three steals but failed to receive ample support as no other Lady Archer finished with more than 10 points.
Skipper Hannah Viterbo and veterans Nicky Garcia and Miller Ong were held to nine, eight and seven markers respectively.
The Lady Archers now stand at third place behind Adamson and National University who sport identical 5-2 records.
Ong’s jumper with 1:49 remaining in the game gave La Salle their last taste of the lead at 65-64 as Karen Columna answered back seven seconds later to grab the lead for good as her team made 6-of-8 free throws that sealed the game.
Last season’s Finals MVP Lim exploded for 20 points in the second half to propel her team to the victory.
The Archers were in control throughout the third quarter, before going toe-to-toe in the last period.
Ahead by four early in the third were the Lady Archers, just before they ignited a 10-0 run which was quickly countered by FEU’s own 10 to nothing rally.
The Taft-based ladies led by 10 points twice in the first half, capitalizing on a quiet first half from Lim who was saddled with three early fouls as the Lady Archers appeared to be on the way to handing the league leaders their first defeat.
The Lady Archers will take on the UP Lady Maroons next on August 28 at the Arena in San Juan. The Lady Maroons currently stand at 1-7, good for seventh place.
FEU (72): Lim 26, Borja 13, Columna 12, Sambile 7, Tanaman 6, Soriano 4, Siat 2. Gesalan 2, Astrero 0, Valenzona 0, Supnet 0.
DLSU (68): Abaca 26, Viterbo 9, Garcia 8, Ong M. 7, Wilson 5, Piatos 5, Corcuera 4, Ong A. 2, Melendres 0.
Quarter scores: 13-18, 26-34, 50-54, 72-68.
