UAAP: Lady Archers fall to ADMU in do-or-die semifinals

The DLSU Lady Archers succumbed to the ADMU Lady Eagles, 62-50, in their do-or-die semifinals match up earlier today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. With the loss, the Lady Archers were unable to capitalize on their twice-to-beat edge, as they also lost to Ateneo in their first semifinals meeting.

Camille Claro led the Lady Archers in today’s effort with 13 points and two rebounds, while Ara Abaca also contributed 12 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.

Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles were spearheaded by Hazelle Yam’s 15 points. Jolina Go added 13 points, while Danica Jose also had a stellar double-double performance of 11 points and 11 rebounds in her team’s victory.

La Salle started the game strong, leading 5-2, in the early going. Three minutes in though, the Lady Archers lost last game’s top scorer, Snow Peñaranda, because of three early fouls. Jose and Yam finished the quarter with five and four points, respectively, to give Ateneo a three-point lead at the end of the first period.

A three-pointer from Alyanna Vergara and lay-ups from Abaca and Bennette Revillosa were enough to give the Taft-based squad a 24-19 lead in the final minute and a half of the second quarter. A quick 7-0 run, capped by an Akiko Tomita three-point play, swung the lead back into ADMU’s favor, giving them a 26-24 lead at halftime.

The Lady Archers started strong in the third period, gunning for a quick 5-0 run to snatch the lead, 29-28, with less than eight minutes to play in the quarter. This was highlighted by a three-pointer made by Ana Castillo and a Claro jumper. La Salle held on to this lead for the rest of the third period, until the Lady Eagles clawed their way back by scoring four straight baskets in less than 38 seconds. This allowed Ateneo to tie the game at 38-all, heading into the fourth period.

The final period was pivotal for the Lady Eagles in their bid to emerge victorious, as they outscored La Salle, 24-12, during the said quarter. This was the most quarter points that ADMU has posted throughout the match. And with La Salle’s meager 33.33 percent field goal shooting, in contrast to Ateneo’s 51.02 percent, the Lady Archers were unable to pull off a comeback in the dying moments of the game as missed shots continued to plague the team.

A huge Ateneo offensive run courtesy of Lady Eagles’ Jose, Go, and Tomita allowed the Katipunan-based squad to take a comfortable seven-point advantage, 55-48, with 2:59 left in the match. The Lady Archers, on the other hand, failed to answer back despite several offensive opportunities arising from their opponent’s turnovers.  Attempts by La Salle to trim the deficit were futile, as Ateneo remained successful in forcing turnovers and converting fastbreak opportunities. The Lady Eagles took the game for good, 62-50, thereby eliminating La Salle and booking a ticket to the UAAP 78 Women’s Basketball Finals against the NU Lady Bulldogs.

DLSU and Ateneo both committed 20 turnovers, but it was ADMU who took advantage, converting those mistakes into 18 points. Unlike the last game, the Lady Archers were able to neutralize the three-point shooters of the Lady Eagles, holding them to one of ten shooting from beyond the arc. Ateneo’s key to victory, however, was their ability to convert inside, as they scored a whopping 46 points in the paint.

With the loss, the Lady Archers were unable to enter the finals for the second consecutive season, after also finishing in third place last year at the hands of  the FEU Lady Tamaraws. It is a disappointing end for DLSU, who lost only twice in the elimination rounds, both to the reigning champions, the NU Lady Bulldogs.

For Mythical Five member Abaca, team captain Allyanna Ong, Fritz Oyao, Gonzales, and Pineda, this loss marks the end of their careers for the Green-and-White.