Holding an 11-point lead at the half, it looked like the De La Salle University Lady Archers were on their way to punching in the remaining UAAP Season 78 women’s basketball finals ticket on Wednesday.
The Lady Archers played uncharacteristically poorly in the second half, failing to move the ball well and settling for one-on-one plays instead of executing properly.
Ara Abaca, one of the leaders of the team, admitted La Salle rushed the game because of their desire to be in the finals immediately, and in the process forgot to go back to their style of play.
“Yung execution namin sobrang sama rin lalo na noong pa-end ng game. Halos lahat kami, especially ako dahil sakin galing yung play. Sobrang gigil naming bawiin yung lead na nakuha nila ng ganun-ganun lang. Yun ang pinaka turning point ng game. Lahat kami sobrang gigil and minadali namin yung game,” Abaca said.
“Hindi umiikot yung bola at kapag may (open) shot hindi rin nasho-shoot dahil sa sobrang gigil mo.”
La Salle only had nine assists against Ateneo’s 11, and shot poorly from the outside at 2-for-12. The Lady Eagles, in contrast, made 60 percent of their outside shots, another department in which La Salle struggled, and made it difficult for the team to adjust.
“First na naging mali sa amin sa second half is, our game plan was (patirahin) sila sa labas but they started making their outside shots and hindi kami nag-adjust,” Abaca shared.
“Sunod-sunod na yung three-point shots nila pero hindi pa kami nag-adjust.”
Ateneo quickly erased the 11-point deficit after knocking down four triples in the third quarter where they outscored their rivals, 22-8. From there, it was a back-and-forth duel with the Lady Eagles forcing a do-or-die on Saturday.
Abaca, who shot 5-for-26 from the field, commented that the atmosphere inside the La Salle dugout had been silent, although she still has confidence in her team.
“For sure, lahat kami babawi.”
