The DLSU Lady Archers, fueled by a strong run in the second quarter, defeated the UP Lady Maroons, 65-46, in their game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum earlier today. The win gives the team a perfect 2-0 record to start their Season 79 campaign.
Bennette Revillosa contributed 13 points, shooting 4 of 7 from the field. Snow Peñaranda and Khate Castillo also grabbed five and seven rebounds, respectively. Last game’s top scorer, Chay Vergara, scored six points, going perfect from behind the three-point line.
![IMG_9998 []](http://thelasallian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_9998--705x470.jpg)
First half
To start the game, the Lady Archers used their full court pressure to stifle the UP offensive attack, leading 9-2 early on. The Lady Maroons, however, responded with their own version of relentless defense causing multiple turnovers for the Taft-based squad. UP methodically ran their offense, hitting wide open jump shots and scoring from the foul line. DLSU, while also able to get to the charity stripe, was only able to convert on three of their ten attempts. Chay Vergara hit a three at the buzzer to give La Salle a slim two point lead at the end of one period.
When asked about the slow start, Coach Cholo Villanueva jokingly blamed “the aircon as it [was] causing players a longer time to warm up.” On a serious note, though, he says, “We [the team] want to have a mental edge on the other team. We feel out the teams; what they’re going to do, what shots they’re giving us, and we improve and adjust based on what happened [in] the first five minutes of the game.”
The Lady Archers came out for the second quarter with renewed purpose. Quickly going on an 8-0 run, DLSU had UP scrambling. While the Lady Maroons were able to respond with six points, that was it for the rest of the quarter for them. Problems arose when their top scorer, Maan Wong with eight points, was charged with her third personal foul midway through the quarter. The Lady Archers took full advantage of this, going on a 15-0 run to close out the half. UP tried to switch to a zone defense midway through the run, but it was to no avail as Camille Claro and Bennette Revillosa, who each scored nine points in the half, were penatrating the defense and scoring with ease.
Second half
The status quo remained as the second half started. Snow Peñaranda scored six straight points, highlighted by a side-step lay-up that drew applause from the crowd. UP tried to keep things close with points from Lourdes Ordoveza and Christine Aliermo but the Lady Archers were getting contributions from each of their players. With a 24-point lead entering the final period, things looked bleak for the Lady Maroons.
While the final deficit was cut to only 19, it was obvious the UP players were getting frustrated. At one point, after Maan Wong missed four straight put back attempts, the frustration became evident on the entire team’s faces. The opposite was true of the DLSU bench as they were able to celebrate the first UAAP baskets of Susan Ali Mohamed El Hadad and Vea Malarde.
Notably, the Lady Archers were able to keep UP’s top scorer, Pesqui Pesquera, to zero points. Wong led the way for UP scoring 11 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. While both teams committed many turnovers, it was La Salle that was able to score more off these turnovers, leading them to a win.
Points for improvement
As stated, one thing DLSU will have to improve on is the 30 turnovers it committed in today’s game. When asked about it, Villanueva emphasized that it was something the team had to improve, explaining, “It’s very very very bad. 30 turnovers against UP is unacceptable. We need to take care of the ball and have better decision making so hopefully we can lower that number to 15-17.”
The team must improve in taking care of the ball if it wishes to defeat its next opponent, the defending champions, the NU Lady Bulldogs. The team, blessed with a one week break, will make the most of it, says Villanueva,. “Back to the drawing board for us but it is exciting for me, for us, because no one has figured out how to beat NU. I’m excited to watch film, to find the solution to the equation to what they’ve been doing the past two years.”
The Lady Archers resume action Sunday, September 18, as they face the aforementioned NU Lady Bulldogs at 8 am, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
DLSU 65 – Revillosa 13, Peñaranda 10, Claro 9, Nuñez 7, Vergara 6, Roxas 4, Castillo 3, Dagdagan 3, Arciga 2, Vela 2, Figueroa 2, Ali Mohamed El Hadad 2, Malarde 2, Gonzales 0, Torres 0.
UP 46 – Wong 11, Ordoveza 10, Aliermo 8, Esplana 7, Gatpatan 6, Medina 2, Rodas 2, Pesquera 0, Lapid 0, Cruz 0, Franco 0, Bautista 0, Tan 0, Ongsiako 0, Villanueva 0.
