The DLSU Lady Archers suffered back-to-back losses after falling short against the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 64-62, in a tightly contested matchup in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Tournament earlier today, November 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Despite the defeat, Kyla Go spearheaded the Lady Archers’ efforts, producing over half of the team’s total output with 32 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and one assist. Mae Camba anchored her team further with 11 points, three rebounds, three steals, and four assists.
On the other side of the court, Yvette Villanueva led the charge with 18 points, nine rebounds, one steal, and two blocks; while Cassie Salvani and Victoria Pasilang notched 12 points and 11 points apiece.
Pressure play
Eager to bounce back from their previous defeat against the defending champions, the DLSU Lady Archers entered the hardwood floor with renewed focus and set the tone early. Paulina Anastacio opened the scoring for the Taft-based squad as she knocked down both shots at the line. The Lady Archers asserted their dominance early, with key contributions from their ball movement that led to continuous markers. Tricia Mendoza drained a two-point jumper to further extend their lead, 9-4. Despite an early advantage, the Green-and-White struggled to maintain their momentum throughout the first quarter. As the quarter progressed, the Taft-based squad struggled as turnovers and missed shots disrupted their rhythm, leading to the Lady Tamaraws capitalizing on their mistakes and taking control of the game. Determined to respond, the Lady Archers tried to regroup but the smart ball movement from the Morayta-based squad made it difficult for the Green-and-White to regain control. At the end of the first quarter, the Lady Archers’ deficit ballooned to 24-13 as they shifted their attention to regrouping and regaining momentum.
The Lady Archers began the second quarter with a noticeably steadier rhythm, determined to reclaim ground against the Lady Tamaraws. Go immediately made her presence felt, nailing down a three-pointer off an assist from Camba, 24-16. A much more composed Lady Archers displayed consistency at the free-throw line to stay within reach. Smart passes and timely assists from Camba and Go opened up scoring opportunities, showing the Green-and-White’s ability to convert offense even under pressure. Go drained a much-needed two-point jumper with the help of an assist from Mendoza, 36-28. However, the Taft-based squad’s steady composure and sharper execution on both ends would dissipate once again as FEU sparked a scoring run, further dictating the game. Struggling to contain the Lady Tamaraws’ offensive outbursts, the Lady Archers were unable to chip away at the lead as the white shirts found themselves trailing behind, 48-32, as to close the first half.
Go big or go home
With a huge gap to overcome, the Lady Archers stepped back onto the hardwood determined to shake off their icy start. Go served as the pacemaker of the quarter, sparking momentum with an early three-pointer, 48-35. She continued to chip away at the deficit by sinking both free throws before driving into the paint for a strong finish under the basket, 48-41. Fate seemed to tilt toward La Salle as FEU began to struggle offensively. The Lady Archers maintained relentless pressure with Go keeping the numbers moving. A clean layup brought the gap down to just five, 48-43, but FEU quickly responded after a timeout, firing off crucial shots. Still, Go refused to let their momentum slip, driving to the rim for another bucket. With a hot hand, she closed the quarter by drilling another three-pointer, trimming the deficit to 57-52 heading into the final frame.
Down by only five, the Green-and-White were locked in on a comeback victory. The fourth quarter started off slow, with Go finally breaking the silence four minutes in, followed by a pair of converted free throws to make it a one-possession game, 59-56. Both teams struggled to find rhythm, trading empty possessions as the clock wound down. Unfortunately for La Salle, Go, their primary scorer, was fouled out midway through the final quarter, leaving five crucial minutes without their centerpiece. The Lady Archers tried to sustain the energy she left on the floor, but fell just short. Tricia Mendoza buried a three to tighten the score to 62-59, but multiple missed free throws and costly turnovers prevented DLSU from taking the lead. In the end, Anastacio sealed the scores for La Salle at the line. The final buzzer sounded with the Lady Archers falling just two points shy, 64-62, as FEU escaped with the narrow win.
The Lady Archers aim to recover and return to the win column as they go up against the AdU Lady Falcons on Wednesday, November 19, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
DLSU 62 – Go 32, Camba 11, Anastacio 5, Mendoza 5, A. Dizon 4, Delos Reyes 3, Dela Paz 2, Sunga 0, Lubrico 0, Villarin 0, S. Dizon 0
FEU 64 – Villanueva 18, Salvani 12, Pasilang 11, Abatayo 6, Dela Torre 6, Espanol 4, Ong 4, Lopez 3, Manguiat 0, Nagma 0
Quarter Scores: 24-13, 32-48, 57-52, 64-62
