The DLSU Lady Archers continue to string together convincing performances, beating the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 56-42, earlier today, November 2, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. This win marks their seventh win in nine UAAP Season 85 contests, tying them with the UST Growling Tigresses for the second seed.
Fina Niantcho and Lee Sario both contributed 12 markers for the Lady Archers, while Bettina Binaohan collected 14 rebounds and 10 points in a glass-crashing double-double performance. The team distributed the ball effectively with assists spread evenly throughout the roster, but it was Luisa de la Paz and Marga Jimenez who led the team with four assists each.
For FEU, Camille Taguiam put up 23 points to go along with eight rebounds. She was the only Lady Tamaraw in double-digits as Danica Pacia and Angel Obien each contributed six markers.
Gathering momentum
The Lady Archers got off to a slow start in the opening minutes of the game, missing seven of their first eight attempts from the field and turning the ball over five times before the 5:15 mark. They fell behind by eight, 10-2, with their sole basket coming from Joehanna Arciga. The Green and White slowly began to work themselves out of their slump, refocusing their efforts to go on a 12-2 run and decisively take the lead, 14-12. This momentum swing was ignited by the offensive boost off the bench by Niantcho and Sario, as the latter put the finishing touches on an acrobatic layup with a little under two minutes remaining in the opening frame. Both teams defended each other out as they closed the first period, but DLSU took the lead, 14-12, to end the quarter.
Sario picked up right where she left off, scoring La Salle’s first five points of the second quarter. The team from Taft slowly began to run away with the game, only allowing the Lady Tamaraws to score six points in the entirety of the second period, while also forcing them into several turnovers. This run allowed them to increase their lead to 12 at 27-15, their highest of the game at that point, with 3:25 remaining in the first half. Continuing to ride their off-the-bench production, DLSU asserted their control over the game and ended the first half with a 13-point buffer, 31-18. The sweet-shooting duo of Sario and Binaohan nearly outscored FEU in the first two quarters, combining for 17 points in the half.
Doubling down inside
After a shaky first-half performance, Jimenez heated up for DLSU, scoring her first two points to open the second half and to answer FEU, 35-25. Throughout the quarter, the Green and White looked to feed Niantcho inside and take advantage of her size difference over the team from Morayta’s frontcourt. The center answered the call, scoring six straight points to maintain her team’s advantage while patrolling the paint on the other end. After seeing their lead decrease to single-digits, DLSU cleaned up their act and exited the third period with a 14-point advantage, 43-29.
The Lady Archers continued to set up plays for Niantcho inside in the final period but found less success as FEU increased their efforts to deny her in the post. The lead fell to single digits at nine, 47-38, with just over five minutes left in the ball game before DLSU head coach Cholo Villanueva called a timeout in an attempt to regroup. As the team leading the league in second-chance points, DLSU’s constant effort on the glass helped them pad their lead before Charmine Torres iced the game with two free throws at the line. After a slow start, the DLSU Lady Archers tallied their seventh win, 56-42.
DLSU head coach Cholo Villanueva comments on his team’s matchup versus the Lady Tamaraws, “FEU [has] a very good basketball program. We were in a dogfight today, good thing na we were able to keep up with the physicality.” He further shares how he and his side approach every game day, “Every win for us [becomes] more of a grind out game. We don’t dominate teams, we’re not a very talented team but we just outsmart our opponents—[we] outwork.”
The mentor also discusses the importance of having all players of the team staying ready, “Bettina Binaohan stepped up big for us…So that’s a confidence boost for her. Whoever is gonna be right up there—the “next man [up]” mentality—that’s what we are. We’re not made of one or two players.”
After a convincing seventh win, the DLSU Lady Archers will look to overcome their rivals, the ADMU Blue Eagles, at 3 pm on Sunday, November 6, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Scores:
DLSU 56 – Niantcho 12, Sario 12, Binaohan 10, Torres 8, Jimenez 4, de la Paz 3, Espinas 3, Camba 2, Arciga 2, Ahmed 0, Villava-Cua 0
FEU 42 – Taguiam 23, Pacia 6, Obien 6, de los Santos 2, Jumuad 2, Paras 2, Go 1, Manguiat 0, Cunanan 0, Aquino 0, Calinawan 0, Lopez 0, Salvani 0, Samonte 0
Quarter Scores: 14-12, 31-18, 43-29, 56-42
