The DLSU Lady Archers fell at the hands of the UE Lady Warriors, 69-68, yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena. La Salle was looking to build off their second win of the season, against the ADMU Lady Eagles last Wednesday, October 4. The Lady Archers now hold a 2-5 win-loss record at the end of the first round of eliminations.
Khate Castillo had 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and shot seven out of 14 from behind the arc to lead DLSU. Meanwhile, Joehanna Arciga and Kat Nuñez contributed 12 points apiece in the losing effort. Despite La Salle’s hot shooting, UE’s Love Sto. Domingo’s effort of 17 points and 15 rebounds was enough to seal the victory for the Lady Warriors.
Tedious first half
Nuñez opened the scoring for La Salle, as she attacked quickly from the jump ball and later on in transition. Midway through the opening quarter, Castillo made her first three-pointer of the game to extend La Salle’s lead to six. However, UE answered back through the collective efforts of Christine Cortizano and Ana Requiron, wherein the latter hit a jumper deep in the left wing with just two seconds left before the first quarter’s end. As a result, UE stayed close 13-12.
The Lady Warriors would then continue to attack the paint and gained their first lead with a basket from Sto. Domingo at the 4:42 mark of the second quarter. Additionally, UE had opportunities from the charity stripe due to careless fouls from La Salle which troubled the Green-and-White in the second half. La Salle started to light up their three-point shooting to stay close to UE. Alyanna Vergara, Arciga, and Castillo each banked in timely baskets to remain in striking distance of their opponent. UE’s 22 points inside the paint, however, gave them an eight-point cushion heading into half-time.
Persistent defense from the Lady Warriors forced 13 La Salle turnovers as compared to only seven from UE. The Lady Warriors’ bench also contributed 13 points, which complemented 22 points from their starters.
Exciting ending
La Salle started to retaliate in the third quarter as Castillo caught fire and made four of her seven three-point field goals in the third quarter alone. Marga Dagdagan capped off a 10-0 run by DLSU with a three-pointer of her own. At the end of the third period, the Lasallians found themselves once again ahead of UE, 51-46, courtesy of a three-point play by Vergara and a basket by Charmaine Torres.
The final chapter started with both teams determined to close out each other, trading blows, basket after basket. However, foul trouble doomed La Salle as coach Cholo Villanueva’s big men, Charlene Javier and Bernice Paraiso, fouled out early in the final frame.
A 7-2 run by Joyce Francisco reclaimed the lead from the Lasallians, 65-64. The nifty point guard contributed 13 points and two steals in the winning effort despite fouling out in the final minute. Nuñez responded with a basket plus a foul to send Francisco to the bench. With only a minute on the clock remaining, a successful play gave Alyssa Gayacao an open look to tie the game at 67-all.
Arciga was fouled to take free throws with 45 seconds remaining but she converted only one out of two from the charity stripe. UE then had possession but failed to deliver to take the lead. However, Vergara’s foul on Sto. Domingo in the fight for the rebound sent the latter to the free throw line due to penalty, and decided the game as she hit both. DLSU had a chance with five seconds left to hit a winning shot, but was defended well by UE.
La Salle had topped UE in steals, ten to seven, bannered by Nunez who had four. Conversely, UE shot 44 percent from the field compared DLSU’s 38. The Lady Warriors also had 19 offensive rebounds which gave them multiple second chance opportunities.
As of press time, the Lady Archers schedule for the second round of the tournament has yet to be announced.
The scores:
DLSU 68 – Castillo 23, Arciga 12, Nuñez 12, Vergara 9, Torres 5, Jimenez 2, Javier 2, Dagdagan 2, Paraiso 1, Figueroa 0
UE 69 – Sto. Domingo 17, Fransisco 13, Chan 13, Gayacao 7, Cortizano 7, Requiron 6, Ramos 2, Tacula 2, Strachan 2, Nama 0
Quarter scores:
13-12, 14-24, 24-13, 17-21
