In a closely contested battle that came down to the final seconds, the DLSU Lady Archers eked out a 75-73 victory over the UP Fighting Maroons in their penultimate Round Two match of the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Tournament yesterday, November 22, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Leading the charge for the Green-and-White was Kyla Go, who exploded with 34 points, five rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Paulina Anastacio took over the second half, adding 17 points, six rebounds, and two steals to seal the game for La Salle.
Meanwhile, the Fighting Maroons matched the Lady Archers’ offense with a double-double performance from Shane Cunanan, who scored 21 points, 14 rebounds, and a steal. Achrissa Maw and Marielle Vingno added 10 points each to boost UP’s offensive barrage.
Fiery, steamy, but streaky
From the get-go, what seemed like a cold arena belied the intensity on the court as the UP Fighting Maroons came out fiery on the defensive end. Their tight press forced turnovers that Louna Ozar converted into back-to-back baskets, giving UP an early 6-4 edge. Aisha Dizon cooled down the Diliman-based defense with a three-pointer to snatch the lead, 7-6. Go added to quenching the fire with a two-pointer float within paint vicinity, 9-6.
While the fire had mellowed, steam rose from the back-and-forth affair, with neither team fully in command. However, the Katipunan squad executed cleanly from the stripe which was the emerging arsenal that Cunanan utilized in giving UP a three-point lead, 12-9. On offense, Go paced the Lasallians as they were tested by Maroons’ defense, but the Lady Archers’ own defensive efforts were just as challenged. The tug-of-war continued until Steph Villapando fired from long range to make it 21-14. Shantei Dizon battled through bodily contact, adding in from traffic with a two-pointer and a point from the line, 21-16.
In the second quarter, the steam of the game slowed for DLSU with a nine-point deficit, marked by Cunanan’s deep attempt off a pass from Maw, 26-17. The Fighting Maroons ramped up their one-on-one defensive press which limited the green shirts’ scoring opportunities, 28-18. With full-determination, Go drove past challengers to paint the scoreboard for La Salle, but Cunanan continued to prove being an unstoppable force to make the game 31-22.
After a Green-and-White timeout, Go and Anastacio focused on improving their shooting efficiency—an improvement from the first quarter, when the Maroons kept them at bay, 35-26. In possession, the Diliman-based squad played with greater accountability with the ball, running threes and floaters effectively. Although aggressive, the Lady Archers played loosely with ball possession, giving away turnovers for the Maroons to easily convert as successive fast breaks, 38-26.
Tricia Mendoza chipped in both free throws to rally the Taft-based squad with scoring spurts, 38-30. But Cunanan remained UP’s main gunner, after a two-pointer and a point from a technical. Alex Mendoza answered with tenacious drive, drawing a foul and converting both reward shots, 41-32. Even while playing catch-up, the final two minutes sparked a revival from a dim torch of victory, as Go capitalized on UP’s late offensive lapses, finishing with back-to-back penetrations to the rim and freebies from the line, cutting the gap to 43-38.
Push and pull plays
After the Fighting Maroons dictated the early pace, the third quarter turned into the Lady Archers’ corrective period. Ozar picked up her fourth personal foul early in the third and was forced to sit with seven minutes remaining in the quarter and rethink their team’s defensive aggression against La Salle. The Diliman-based squad briefly extended its momentum when Rhea Solitario knocked down a three to make it 49-41 in favor of the Maroons, but turnovers handed the Lady Archers a 9-0 burst that flipped the scoreboard to 50-49. From there, the Lady Archers leaned on second-chance points and interior work. Go’s bucket in the paint and a subsequent steal that led to a transition finish helped sustain the run, while Kyla Sunga’s offensive rebounds provided extra opportunities for the Green-and-White to build on their growing lead. In the final moments of the quarter, Anastacio knocked down a triple, while a soft touch from T. Mendoza closed the period with the Lady Archers ahead, 64-56, seizing control of the momentum and firmly putting the squad ahead entering the final frame.
The fourth quarter became a test of composure for the Taft-based squad, who were coming off a tough loss in the final moments of their previous match. What started as a comfortable cushion for the Lady Archers turned into a grind where every possession mattered. Anastacio’s early jumper gave the Green-and-White some breathing room, but the return of Ozar and the Maroons’ dominance in the paint led to stretches of stagnant offense and turnovers for the Lady Archers, briefly handing the momentum back to the Maroons and tightening the score, 71-68. Anastacio halted their run with a triple to preserve DLSU’s edge over the Diliman-based squad. In the closing moments of the game, a costly turnover and Anastacio’s early exit pulled the Fighting Maroons up to within a single point, 74-73. A late technical foul shifted the balance again, allowing Go to convert at the line. After a final scramble and a missed last attempt from BB Barba, the Lady Archers were able to barely hang on for a 75-73 victory.
After the final buzzer, Coach Cholo Villanueva credited the victory to the spark Go provided. “She’s doing everything for us, and nakita ng teammates niya. Everyone just followed. She just wants to win every possession and every second of the game,” he shared.
(She’s doing everything for us, and her teammates could see it.)
Go reflected on the fire that fueled her performance, rooted in the frustration over their previous loss against Adamson. “Siyempre may gigil—sobra. After not playing, babawi talaga ako. Magiging leader ako sa team,” she said. Embracing the responsibility that had been missing, she gave her best in a game crucial to securing a spot in the Final Four, delivering a 34-point eruption.
(Of course, I was extremely eager. After not playing, I was determined to make up for it. I will be a leader on the team.)
The Green-and-White prepare as they aim to conclude the elimination round with back-to-back wins when they face the ADMU Blue Eagles on Wednesday, November 26, at the same venue.
The scores
DLSU 75 – Go 34, Anastacio 17, Mendoza 8, Sunga 5, Villapando 5, A. Dizon 3, S. Dizon 3, Camba 0, Araza 0, Dela Paz 0, Lubrico 0, Reyes 0, Catalan 0
UP 73 – Cunanan 24, Maw 10, Vingno 10, Ozar 9, Mendoza 6, Solitario 6, Nolasco 4, Pesquera 4, Barba 3, Tapawan 0, Mejasco 0, Evangelista 0
Quarter Scores: 23-17, 43-38, 64-56, 75-73
