After six games of competitive women’s basketball in the 76th season of the UAAP, the Lady Archers find themselves with a comfortable 5-1 record nearing the end of the first round of eliminations. Fourth year forward Ara Abaca has averaged a double-double throughout six games with a statline of 14.5 points and 11.7 rebounds per game, following up her citation as the Most Valuable Player in the recently concluded Fil-Oil Flying V Preseason Cup and as a member of the UAAP Season 75 Mythical Team. The forward was crucial in the team’s five game winning streak to start the season which was snap as they bowed down to the NU Lady Bulldogs last July 28 for their first loss.
The first five wins of the Taft-based squad saw them squandering their opponents with an 11.6-winning margin. Their only loss against the Lady Bulldogs saw their furious fourth quarter rally come up short and they eventually succumbed to NU by nine points, after being down by as much as 22 points in the third quarter.
The team’s barometer
The brand of basketball that the Lady Archers seem to portray when they have emerged as victors has an emphasis on rebounding. They have out-rebounded their opponents, led by DLSU’s formidable frontcourt of Abaca and Cassandra Santos. Aside from their strength on the inside, the Lady Archers have also relied on strong three-point shooting, points off turnovers and second-chance points to topple their opponents, proving that the little things in basketball are essential to victory.
Against NU, their only loss so far this season, they were outrebounded by eight, 35-43, and were also beaten in the turnover and second chance points department with 2-8 and 18-28 disadvantages respectively.
The UAAP Rookie of the Year back in 2010, Abaca has also received much support from fellow veterans such as sharpshooting guard Trisha Piatos and the hard working Santos. Piatos has shouldered some of the offensive load for head coach Tyrone Bautista’s squad as she averages at least two conversions from beyond the arc per game on the way to an average of eight points per outing. On the other hand, Santos has teamed up in the frontcourt with Abaca to lead the rebounding brigade for DLSU.
Upcoming games
The Lady Archers have yet to play against last year’s champions, the undefeated FEU Lady Tamaraws, as of presstime. The team suffered a bitter loss last year as they lost in the UAAP Finals to the Lady Tamaraws, but they exacted revenge by winning this year’s Fil-Oil Cup. As the season continues, the Green-and-White squad is looking for its first championship in the UAAP since 2002, when they completed a four-peat with the first three coming under the guidance of the current head coach of the Green Archers, Juno Sauler.
