The DLSU Lady Archers battled against the UE Lady Warriors, ultimately succumbing to a 65-47 defeat earlier today, September 22, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. This loss leaves La Salle still searching for their first victory of the tournament, a challenge they will be eager to overcome in the upcoming games.
Despite the setback, Luisa San Juan stood out for the Lady Archers, showcasing her skills with 14 points, including five field goals, an assist, and a crucial block. Tricia Mendoza also made her presence felt, contributing 10 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and three blocks, proving she can be a force on both ends of the court.
On the other side, Princess Ganade spearheaded her team’s charge with a commanding performance, scoring 15 points and leading her team to victory. She was ably supported by Rachel Lacangaya and Aliyah Ronquillo, who added 13 and 11 points, respectively, highlighting UE’s balanced offense.
Struggling to keep up
The game tipped off with La Salle claiming the first points, a swift three-pointer that set the tone at 3-0. However, as the first quarter unfolded, the tide began to shift. A critical timeout was called at the 1:34 mark, with the Lady Archers struggling to maintain defensive pressure, hampering their offensive flow. By the end of the quarter, they found themselves trailing 21-18, as the UE Lady Warriors capitalized on the momentum.
La Salle fought to close the gap as the second quarter progressed, showcasing a flurry of back-and-forth scoring. With two minutes to go, the Lady Archers ignited a brief surge, but UE’s relentless pursuit kept them ahead. The quarter closed with Mendoza slicing through the defense for a free throw, leaving La Salle in a challenging position at 37-26. The ultimate battle for control was heating up, and the stakes were higher than ever.
Losing the perimeter
At the start of the half, the Lady Archers immediately sought to impose themselves into the game with their full-court press, forcing a turnover off a missed shot. However, the Lady Archers struggled to double down on their efforts on the offensive end, missing their attempts from long range. As their offensive woes continued, the Green-and-White could not sustain their defensive efforts which allowed inside shots from the Lady Warriors with six minutes to go, 44-26.
La Salle found their groove back as they were able to force turnovers, leading to easy baskets for Mendoza inside, 44-30. It appeared that the Lady Archers might launch a comeback in the final four minutes of the third quarter as San Juan found rhythm in her offensive touches, but UE remained hot from outside and kept their lead in double digits, 44-32. The Lady Archers remained on the back foot as they tried to cope with the Lady Warriors’ confident and flawless offensive play to end the third quarter, 49-32.
DLSU and UE traded blows to begin the fourth quarter, with neither side able to shift the tide in the opening minutes. San Juan and Mendoza looked to pull the white shirts within striking distance with their efforts inside, but the Lady Warriors continued their hot streak from beyond the arc, 58-38.
San Juan tried to rally the offense in the final five minutes, making shots and creating for her teammates. However, the Lady Warriors’s fluid offense remained intact to keep their lead. DLSU could not convert their shooting strokes late in the game to pull the score closer, but the final buzzer sounded which marked the end of the game with a final score of 65-47.
The Green-and-White did not lack the effort to fight against the UE Lady Warriors. The Taft-based squad was in full force to pester UE with their full-court press and physical defense. However, luck was not on their side as their perimeter shots missed, while the Recto-based squad found rhythm in their three-pointers.
The Lady Archers will look to bounce back from this grueling defeat when they take on the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Wednesday, September 25, at 11:30 am at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
DLSU 47 – San Juan 14, Mendoza 10, Camba 4, Sario 4, Sunga 4, Rodriguez 3, Santos 2, Dela Paz 2, Paraiso 2, Delos Reyes 2, Villava-Cua 0, Catalan 0, Bacierto 0
UE 65 – Ganade 15, Lacayanga 13, Ronquillo 11, Vacalares 9, Ruiz 9, Yanez 5, Kone 3, Dalguntas 0, Buscar 0, Cruz 0, Lumibao 0
Quarter Scores: 18-21, 26-37, 32-49, 47-65
