In a grueling attempt to secure the first win of their season 88 run, the DLSU Lady Archers fell prey to the claws of the ADMU Blue Eagles, 77-58, in their Round One matchup of the UAAP Women’s Basketball Tournament, yesterday, October 5, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Trisha Mendoza and Mica Camba proved to be strong contenders in the Green-and-White’s valiant bid, scattering 11 points apiece with four and five rebounds, respectively. Elizabeth Delos Reyes and Aiesha Dizon also stepped up, trailing close behind with eight points each.
It was the fierce might of Blue Eagle Kacey Dela Rosa that gave the Lady Archers a run for their money as she dominated both ends of the court with 15 massive points. Her towering presence in the paint consistently disrupted La Salle’s rhythm, converting second-chance opportunities and shutting down driving lanes with her defensive length.
Chasing the drive
The Ateneo Blue Eagles rushed into the first quarter with a hot shooting display, leaving La Salle no choice but to be on the defensive from the very start. With Malagar hitting two triples in a row in addition to Makan and Dela Rosa taking the ball straight to the basket, Ateneo was well on their way to a commanding double-digit lead, 20-4, with six minutes into the first quarter. The Lady Archers, on the other hand, struggled with their offense as rushed possessions and missed scoring opportunities were their biggest challenge. Although Kyla Go and Aeisha Dizon attempted to draw fouls and added to the scoring from the free throw line, La Salle’s attack plan was chaotic as Ateneo’s smooth ball control and aggressive defense took total command. The quarter came to a close as Ateneo held a 28-10 advantage.
The Lady Archers showed flashes of their trademark grit in the second quarter. Camba began the quarter with a strong drive to the basket, resulting in a three-point play which boosted the Lady Archers’ offense. A more composed approach was showcased by the Green-and-White, with De Los Reyes scoring inside the paint from a clever no-look assist by Zyla Lubrico to whittle the deficit. Rookie Aiesha Dizon then drilled a confidence-boosting three-pointer to cut the lead to 32-20 midway through the quarter. While Ateneo relied on Malagar’s fluid ball movement, La Salle’s improved spacing and hustle on the boards began to slightly turn the tide. Camba and Villarin were able to score buckets after quick lapses on the defensive end of Ateneo, to bring the Lady Archers back within nine, 39-30, heading into the half. Despite the Blue Eagles still holding the lead, the quarter showed La Salle’s resilience by turning what started as a one-sided game into a competitive battle.
Loss of momentum
Both squads entered the third quarter eager to take control, as Malagar and Mendoza traded long-ranged baskets, 42-33. La Salle continued to amp up their offense, yet Ateneo still commanded the tempo, forcing a back-and-forth surge, 48-38 . The green shirts made key adjustments as they brought in height to their lineup in hopes of containing Dela Rosa. The Lasallians capitalized on their rotation as Camba worked her way inside and sank her attempts from the charity stripe to keep the margin in single digits, 51-42. Mendoza followed this up as she fired a three-pointer, however the Blue Eagles answered with one of their own, refusing to yield control. Each Lasallian basket would be countered by the Katipunan-based side, as a triple from De Luna widened the gap back to double-digits, 57-45. Ateneo displayed their dominance in the paint as Cancio made do with a putback basket as the third quarter came to a close, 59-45.
Ateneo continued to capitalize on their momentum as an inside basket from Dela Rosa sparked a seven-point run to inflate the lead to 20, 68-46. The Green-and-White struggled from the field as they settled for trips to the charity stripe. The Blue Eagles took advantage of the DLSU’s drought as Kai Oani knocked down a three-pointer, 71-49. The Lady Archers’ cold spell was finally put to an end as Mendoza finished with a layup. ADMU remained in control with two minutes remaining on the clock, as Oani launched another triple to extend DLSU’s misery. As points came from free throws for La Salle, Ateneo stayed hot from deep, firing another three courtesy of Cruza, 77-55. Despite the Taft-based squad’s continued aggressiveness as they got rewarded with more free throws, the Blue Eagles walked away with a resounding 77-58 victory.
The Scores:
DLSU 58 – Camba 11, Mendoza 11, Delos Reyes 8, Dizon 8, Sunga 5, Nofisat 4, Go 3, Lubrico 3, Villarin 3, Anastacio 2, Dela Paz 0, Dizon 0, Villapando 0
ADMU 77 – Dela Rosa 15, Malagar 13, Oani 12, De Luna 11, Cancio 8, Villacruz 4, Batongbakal 3, Cruza 3, H. Lopez 3, Makanjuola 3, Olivenza 2, Chan 0, Fetavelo 0, L. Lopez 0
Quarter Scores: 10-28, 30-39, 45-59, 58-77
