The DLSU Lady Archers absorbed their second loss of the season as they were overpowered by the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 77-55, earlier today at the Blue Eagle Gym. La Salle currently holds a 2-2 win-loss standing while FEU improves to a 4-1 record.
Lady Tamaraw Clare Castro tallied the most amount of points in the game, scoring 25 points with a 53 percent field goal percentage. The towering center also grabbed 15 rebounds, one steal, and six blocks. Meanwhile, Fatima Quiapo, had her own double-double as she recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds.
In the losing effort, Kat Nuñez was the only player who tallied double digits in points with 14. She also notched four rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
Defensive mishaps
Blanche Bahuyan scored the first two points of the game in favor of FEU by converting a jumper at 9:05. The Lady Archers struggled with their perimeter defense as Lady Tamaraws Valerie Mamaril and Elaisa Adriano made most of their possessions after making two successive three-pointers to give FEU a 9-4 lead early in the game.
With less than three minutes remaining in the first quarter, Nuñez trimmed the lead of FEU down to five, 16-11, after a successful layup attempt. The Green-and-White finished the first period on a high note by scoring seven consecutive points and taking the lead over FEU, 18-16.
The Taft-based squad utilized the momentum gained in the previous quarter and extended the lead to five points, 24-19, after an FEU turnover led to a DLSU fastbreak wherein Charmaine Torres made a layup.
Midway through the second quarter, the momentum was taken away from DLSU by FEU following a 17-0 run which was initiated by Camille Taguiam in the 5:02 mark and spearheaded by Castro. Taking advantage of her height, Castro scored eight of FEU’s 17 points inside the paint, 40-30.
When asked about the crucial run made by FEU in the second quarter, DLSU head coach Cholo Villanueva explained, “They were getting all the offensive rebounds and all the loose balls so that’s why they were getting several chances to shoot the ball. Then on the other end, we weren’t able to execute.”
Disappointing finish
Castro continued her dominance against the Lady Archers as she quickly scored a basket 20 seconds into the third canto. Castillo answered back in the next possession after making a field goal to make it 42-32. A few plays later, Mamaril converted a three-pointer to extend the lead of the Lady Tamaraws, 47-34.
The Lady Tamaraws then erected a 20-point lead towards the end of the third quarter as they dominated the paint and shackled the La Salle offense. Three straight free throws by Nuñez cut the deficit to 17 points, but a floater by Nina Antiola at the end of the third period gave FEU a 62-43 advantage heading to the final quarter.
Just like in the third canto, Castro opened the scoring once again by knocking down a long three-pointer to make it 65-43. Both teams were scoreless in the next couple of minutes, but Quiapo broke the dry spell by converting another three-pointer for the Lady Tamaraws at the 6:51 mark.
DLSU team captain Camille Claro and reserve guard Nuñez combined for six points after Quiapo’s three-pointer, but they were unable to stage a comeback. FEU had their biggest lead at 26 points, 75-49, after Mamaril converted a layup with 2:30 minutes remaining in the game.
After receiving their second straight defeat this season, Villanueva said that the team needs to be aggressive in their next game and come out strong early. “We need to learn how to bounce back from a loss,” he concluded.
The Lady Archers will be looking to end their losing skid as they face the UST Golden Tigresses, October 3, at 2pm, in the Mall of Asia Arena.
The scores:
DLSU 55 – Nuñez 14, Arciga 8, Castillo 7, Claro 6, Torres 6, Quingco 5, Paraiso 4, Del Campo 3, Revillosa 2, Binaohan 0, Jimenez 0.
FEU 77 – Castro 22, Mamaril 18, Quiapo 10, Taguiam 8, Adriano 7, Bahuyan 6, Antiola 4, Vidal 2, Payadon 0.
Quarter scores: 18-16, 30-40, 43-62, 55-77
