With their season on the line, the Ateneo Lady Eagles relied on the inspired play of their veterans to oust Adamson University, 55-41, Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym. The Lady Eagles earned a playoff for the last Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 78 women’s basketball tournament.
The Lady Eagles finished with a 6-8 card and will tackle the loser of the University of Santo Tomas-University of the East (UST-UE) match for the remaining Final Four spot.
The National University, who swept the elimination round for an outright championship appearance, and the De La Salle Univeristy La Salle are already in the Final Four. The winner between UST and UE will also seal their berth.
The Lady Falcons ended their campaign on a 4-10 note, tying UP at 6th-7th.
The Lady Eagles were the more determined team from the start, leading the Lady Falcons 14-5 in the first period. Danica Jose and Jollina Go combined for 10 in that particular stretch.
Ateneo kept pushing in the middle quarters, scoring baskets in transition to pull away and build a 45-25 lead later in the fourth quarter, before the bench players finished the job towards the end of the game.
Claire Aseron, who is in her final year with the Lady Eagles, topscored for the Loyola side with 11 points and also hauled down 5 rebounds.
Jose had an all-around effort of 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Go chipped in 10 points.
Ateneo had a 22-10 lead in fastbreak points and had a 42-24 advantage in inside points. The Lady Eagles also scored 24 points off 35 Adamson turnovers.
Jonalyn Lacson had 11 points and 9 rebounds even as the Lady Falcons had a 58-37 rebounding edge over their counterparts.
Scores:
Ateneo (55) – Aseron 11, Jose 10, Go 10, Buendia 6, Yam 5, Newsome 3, Nitorreda 2, Lamar 2, Payac 2, Guytingco 2, Moslares 2, Javier 0, Tomita 0, Veloso 0.
AdU (41) – Lacson 11, Araja 7, Ido 6, Tabanao 6, Diaz 4, Camacho 4, Cochico 2, Generoso 1, Alcoy 0, Osano 0, Escalante 0, Tacitac 0, Aciro 0
Quarterscores: 14-5, 28-17, 41-25, 55-41.
