The Adamson University Lady Falcons took its first win of the season, bucking a late University of the Philippines Lady Maroon blitz, 66-61, to give head coach Mike Fermin a win in his UAAP women’s basketball debut Sunday morning at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Kaye Pingol led three Lady Falcons in double-digits with 12 points. Jamie Alcoy added 11 markers while Jonalyn Lacson almost finished with a double-double with 10 ponts and nine rebounds.
“It feels good. Coaching them is a new challenge for me,” coach Fermin shared after notching his first win the UAAP Women’s Basketball tournament. “I have to adjust myself to them and they have to adjust to me.”
“Nakakatuwa naman they responded to the gameplan that we had for this game.”
The Lady Falcons were up by as much as 18 points in the game, 44-18, midway through the third frame. However, the Lady Maroons press bothered the San Marcelino lady cagers, forcing turnovers to slowly chip into the lead.
Back-to-back baskets by Daphne Esplane continued the UP surge at the start of the final frame while a triple Pesque Posquera tied the game at 48-all with 6:32 remaining in the game.
UP was able to get its sole lead of the game 37 seconds later after a Therese Medina layup coming from an Adamson error.
“Ang sabi ko lang naman sa kanila is yung scouting report sa amin ay just pressure Adamson and we will win,” Fermin shared. “In order for us to win, kapag tayo ay pine-pressure, hindi kami magbarabara.”
After an Adamson timeout, the Lady Falcons responded with a 10-0 rally, giving the Lady Maroons a taste of its own medicine in forcing them to turnovers. A three-point play by Myra Osano and a jumper by Nathalia Prado gave Adamson a 60-50 lead with 2:27 remaning in the game.
“Nakita naman natin na pagnaitawid na naman, dun nakikita yung composure namin,” Fermin, who led the Soaring Falcons to three wins last season, remarked.
Needing points in a hurry, Posquera took charge for the Lady Maroons, sparking an 11-2 rally capped by a triple to slide the Adamson lead to just a solitary point 61-62 with just 36 ticks left.
Christine Aliermo was able to force another Lady Falcon turnover later on but turned the ball over. A basket by Pingol and a split from the stripe by Prado sealed the win for the Lady Falcons.
“For the Adamson community ito,” the Adamson mentor closed.
It was a turnover-plagued game with both teams combining for 73 turnovers. UP held the edge on turnover points 25 to 19 but were negated by the better shooting from the field by the Lady Maroons, 36 percent compared to 31 percent for the Diliman lady cagers.
Pesquera was in full Bea Daez-mode in the game, scoring a game-high 19 points on 7-of-27 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds. Former UP women’s football team goalkeeper Maan Wong added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lady Falcons (1-0) next face the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Sunday, September 11 at 8:00am. On the other hand, the UP Lady Maroons (0-1) look to bounce back Saturday, September 10 as it faces last season’s runners-up, the DLSU Lady Archers, at 10:00am. Both games will still be played at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
ADU (66) – Pingol 12, Alcoy 11, Lacson 10, Prado 7, Araja 5, Aciro 4, Osano 3, Razalo 3, Cacho 3, Tacitac 2, Dampios 2, Camacho 2, Rosario 2, Cabug 0.
UP (61) – Pesquera 19, Wong 14, Aliermo 7, Esplana 6, Bautista 5, Medina 4, Ordoveza 2, Cruz 2, Lapid 2, Rodas 0, Gatpatan 0, Villanueva 0.
Quarterscores: 18-10, 36-26, 48-39, 66-61.
