In a search for momentum, the DLSU Lady Archers’ pursuit was thwarted by top-seeded AdU Lady Falcons in a 76-57 drubbing in their UAAP Season 89 Women’s Basketball Tournament earlier today, November 15, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Despite falling short, Ojo carried the Green-and-White’s fight with 14 points and 18 rebounds, keeping the Animo spirit burning as Kyla Sunga added 12 to the tally.
Meanwhile, Elain Etang led the Lady Falcons with a game-high 22 points, while veteran Cheska Apag commanded the defense with eight steals.
Grounded archers, soaring falcons
Looking to regain vital winning rhythm, the Green-and-White unleashed Ojo to open the frame, drilling her first markers from the free-throw line, 2-0. The Adamson ballers emerged supreme in the initial standoff, with Etang responding using her signature floater and Apag adding her own to snag the lead, 4-2. At the onset of the quarter, the Animo faithful saw their own colors struggle against the hands of blue. La Salle was outmaneuvered by the Falcons, as multiple playmaking attempts led to turnovers. The free-throw line and last-minute layup opportunities, meanwhile, seemed to be their competitive edge. Pouring salt on the wound, the Falcons further widened their advantage with three consecutive downtown connections, led by Brianna Bajo, 21-8, coming after Lasallian standout Kyla Go sustained an ankle injury. In the closing minutes of the opening quarter, the bystanders remained hopeful of DLSU’s famous double-digit comeback quirks. However, when even star player Ojo was substituted due to injury, Adamson’s speed and defensive intensity clearly outmatched the Green-and-White, as Kyla Sunga secured the final possession before the first-quarter shot clock expired, leaving the Falcons with a commanding lead, 29-15.
With the second quarter underway, the Taft-based squad seemed to live up to their quirk as Zyla Lubrico and Kyla Sunga merged efforts to produce six markers, 32-21. However, three-point specialist Bajo answered again with another long-range bomb, alongside Trix Burgos’ two-pointer, 34-21. Yet again, the latter quarter highlighted the Falcons’ trademark dominance, where the Archers paled in comparison. When the Falcons displayed an Etang-to-Bajo-to-Apag rainbow net-finder combination, 37-22, the atmosphere became increasingly suffocating for La Salle, especially when Angeline Alba brandished an effective fastbreak that stretched the deficit to 20, 43-23. In the waning seconds of the first half, a bitter end seemed inevitable as Sunga found Eli De Los Reyes to draw the final points for La Salle, 45-25, with the advantage firmly in their opponents’ favor.
Costly turnovers and shooting woes
Facing a daunting 22-point deficit, the Lady Archers desperately searched for an offensive spark to cut into the massive Adamson lead. The Lady Falcons immediately imposed their will with suffocating defense, forcing erratic passes and swift turnovers that Apag easily converted in transition. While Arabella Bacierto broke through with a smooth paint finish and Pau Anastacio drained a crucial triple to provide a 57-36 lifeline, the Green-and-White were continually plagued by clumsy ball handling and errant passes. Capitalizing on La Salle’s disjointed possessions, Etang orchestrated the Adamson response with sweeping fastbreaks and timely layups. Despite Ojo muscling her way to the charity stripe and battling inside, AdU firmly dictated the tempo, ending the third period with a commanding 66-45 cushion.
The closing quarter devolved into a bruising, highly physical hardwood battle as both squads struggled to find the bottom of the net from the perimeter. Refusing to yield, Sunga and Ojo attempted to assert their physical presence in the shaded lane to spark a late-game resurgence. However, the Adamsonian interior defense stood resolute, highlighted by a monster block from Burgos to firmly deny Sunfa at the rim. Mired in severe offensive miscommunication and a crippling shooting drought, the Taft-based squad simply could not mount a sustained run to threaten the double-digit gap. Ojo fought valiantly to secure late conversions inside despite visibly struggling against the double teams, but Etang delivered the final backbreakers with a series of smooth running shots, officially shutting the door on any hopes of a Lasallian comeback to seal the dominant 76-57 victory for the Lady Falcons.
With the hopes of turning the tide on the rest of their campaign and securing a crucial bounce-back victory, the Green-and-White will next clash with the UP Fighting Maroons on Sunday, November 22, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
DLSU 57 – Ojo 14, Sunga 12, Bacierto 6, Delos Reyes 6, Dueñas 4, Anastacio 3, Tenebro 3, Villarin 3, Araza 2, Go 2, Lubrico 2, Dizon 0, Teves 0, VIllapando 0
AdU 76 – Etang 22, Apag 15, Adeshina 11, Meniano 10, Bajo 9, Munoz 8, Alaba 1, Burgos 0, Carcallas 0, Cortez 0, Lumbago 0, Mazo 0, Medina 0, Tano 0
Quarter Scores: 15-29, 31-53, 45-67, 57-76