The DLSU Lady Archers launched their UAAP Season 80 campaign with a 70-62 loss against the FEU Lady Tamaraws earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Lasallians endured a difficult game from start to finish as they committed 27 turnovers and scored only eight points in the third quarter.
“We have a very young team so it’s part of the first game jitters,” said head coach Cholo Villanueva on the first game loss.
Khate Castillo and Joehanna Arciga were the only Lady Archers to score in double digits as they finished the game with 21 and 17 points, respectively. Both players also grabbed 14 and 10 rebounds each in the losing effort. Isabel Balleser led the Lady Tamaraws with 16 points while shooting 58 per cent from the field.
Slow first half
Lady Tamaraw Fatima Quiapo began the game with two quick baskets to give FEU an early 4-0 lead. DLSU’s Bernice Paraiso and Castillo retaliated to score the first points for La Salle but Balleser made a lay-up and knocked down two free throws to give FEU the lead back, 8-5. The Lady Archers were unable to regain momentum as the Lady Tamaraws used a 6-0 run at the end of the first quarter to further extend their lead, 25-15.
The Lady Tamaraws continued their offensive onslaught as they pushed their lead to 13 with a three-point basket courtesy of Valerie Mamaril. Castillo, Arciga, and Paraiso combined to cut the deficit to six but FEU’s Joannah Ouano answered back with her own three-pointer. La Salle finished the first half trailing FEU by 11 points, 46-35.
La Salle struggled throughout the first half as they committed 22 turnovers with FEU capitalizing on it by scoring 21 points off the Lady Archers’ turnovers. The starters for both teams scored 31 points each during the first two quarters but it was FEU’s bench who made a difference by scoring 15 points, a lot more compared to DLSU’s four bench points.
Frenetic second half
FEU started to pull away from La Salle with Balleser making a two-point field goal to start the third quarter. Hoping to turn the momentum of the game their way, Villanueva opted to field in Charmaine Torres for the first time in the game and she immediately gave the team energy as well as two quick points. The team seemed rejuvenated but the Lady Tamaraws finished the third quarter strong, 58-43.
Torres continued to play well during the next quarter as she converted a floater to cut the deficit at 13 points. Castillo and Arciga, along with Torres, brought the FEU lead down to five with a minute to go in the game. FEU’s Precious Arellano, who scored a total of 15 points in the game, made a crucial jumper to push the lead back to seven, 67-60. Arellano’s shot was the last field goal made in the game as La Salle’s comeback fell short, eventually dropping their first game to FEU, 70-62.
After playing their first game without the seniors who graduated last year and Camille Claro, who suffered an ACL injury during the preseason, Villanueva stressed that their leadership was missed in the game. “We have new leaders now and hopefully they’ll step up for next game.”
Next up for the DLSU Lady Archers are the NU Lady Bulldogs, which will be a rematch of last season’s finals, this Saturday, 8am, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The scores:
FEU 70 – Balleser 16, Arellado 15, Mamaril 12, Ouano 9, Taguiam 7, Quiapo 4, Bastatas 4, Jumuad 2, Gerner 1, Okunlola 0, Payadon 0
DLSU 62 – Castillo 21, Arciga 17, Torres 6, Dagdagan 5, Paraiso 5, Figueroa 5, Jimenez 2, Vergara 1, Nunez 0, Del Ocampo 0, Javier 0
Quarter scores: 25-15, 21-20, 12-8, 12-19
