The DLSU Lady Archers broke away from the National University Lady Bulldogs, 75-64, to end the eliminations on a high note last September 16 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The heated game between the two teams had four deadlocks and 11 lead changes.
Ara Abaca scored a game-high of 26 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists while Trisha Piatos and Hannah Viterbo combined for 35 points and 8 boards.
“We just have to play our game plan and execute it regardless of the degree of play. As long as we stick together and play our game, we will get a W [win] every time,” said DLSU Head Coach Tyrone Bautista after the game.
For the Lady Bulldogs, Joi Tolentino led the team with 20 points and 6 rebounds while Carmina Laquindanum added 14 points and 11 carroms.
After a seesaw warfare against the Lady Bulldogs in the first half, Piatos made a triple during the 5:22 mark in the third quarter that sparked a commanding 20-8 run. The Taft-based squad ended the canto with a huge 61-44 advantage.
The Lady Archers then delivered the final blow in the final quarter as Viterbo cashed in a baseline jumper over the outstretched defense of the Lady Bulldogs.
“That second half run, that is who we are, and that is what we must improve on and carry on the games to follow in the semis,” said Coach Bautista as he praised his team for its impressive second half surge.
DLSU started strong in the opening minutes of regulation, taking an early, 8-2, lead. NU soon struck back with vengeance as the team made a 16-5 run of its own.The Bulldogs’ burst eventually gave the team the lead in the first quarter, 18-17.
The Lady Archers went numb in the second canto as center Kady Wilson encountered foul trouble. The Sampaloc-based squad continued to ride momentum, leading by much as 5 points, 31-26. NU again led by a single point at the end of the half.
La Salle then shattered the Lady Bulldogs in the third canto, orchestrating a 29-11 slate. The team waxed down hot from downtown, drilling in six shots from beyond the arc, five of which came from Piatos.
With this morale-boosting win, Coach Bautista hopes the team would carry its momentum heading into the Final Four.
“If we show what we did to them (NU) today in the playoffs, when the time comes, when that moment is theirs, that is ours,” he concluded.
The Scores:
DLSU (75) – Abaca 26, Piatos 18, Viterbo 17, Santos 6, Wilson 4, M. Ong 4 , A. Ong 0, Ramos 0, Melendres 0, Gonzales 0, Garcia 0, Corcuera 0
NU (64) – Tolentino 20, Laquindanum 14, Bernardino 9, Miranda 8, Sison 5, Paig 3, Tongco 2, Abriam 2, Oriel 1, Pama 0, Cenarosa 0, Bonleon 0, Alla 0, Antiquiera 0
Quarterscores: 17-18, 32-33, 61-44, 75-64
