After trailing for most of the first half, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws took advantage of a UP cold spell in the third quarter to rout the winless Lady Maroons, 65-61 at the Blue Eagle Gym on Sunday Morning.
Bea Daez exploded in the first half to score eighteen points for the Lady Maroons, who went into halftime with a 34-30 lead. Daez also shot 4 of 5 three-point field to help UP enter the game strong. Come the third quarter, the Lady Tamaraws would finally find a way to hold back the Maroons by having Claire Castro prowl the post and deny UP the easy inside basket. With UP’s offensive assault dulled, the Tamaraws would mount their own comeback with Angel Arellano coming in strong to help FEU outscore the Maroons 20-12 in the third quarter and take a 50-46 coming into the final period.
FEU’s scoring barrage would extend to a ten-point lead early in the fourth quarter after a 6-0 run. UP, led by Antonia Wong and Janeena Tatel would respond and slowly rally the Lady Maroons back to life. A three-pointer from Jeanine Bautista would help UP to a 61-all deadlock, but FEU would quickly respond with a basket in the next play. Trailing by two points, UP would have a chance to either tie or take the lead, but would turn the ball over after a shot clock violation. A defensive stop in the next play gave UP another chance to gain on the Tamaraws, but a block by Claire Castro on Antonio Wong leading to FEU to gain possession with mere seconds remaining would extinguish hope for UP. Two free throw baskets by April Siat in the next possession would give FEU the 65-61 lead and the win.
Angel Arellano led the FEU scoring with 18 points. April Siat had 14 points and 6 rebounds, while Claire Castro had 14 points, 18 rebounds and 4 blocks. UP’s Bea Daez led all scorers with 21 points, eighteen of which she scored in the first half alone. Antonia Wong had 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Janeena Tatel had 10.
The Lady Tamaraws are currently at 3-4 entering the second round, while the Lady Maroons have yet to taste victory, coming into the second round with a 0-7 slate.
