Picking up from where they left off last year, reigning UAAP Women’s Basketball champions National University Lady Bulldogs commenced their Season 79 campaign with a 62-58 win over the University of the East Lady Warriors today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The win is the Lady Bulldogs’ 33 straight.
Queen Bulldog Gemma Miranda led the Lady Bulldogs with 18 points and was followed by Afril Bernardo and Ria Nabalan with 14 points apiece.
The Lady Bulldogs led as much as sixteen points at halftime. However, they slowly allowed the Lady Warriors to get back in the game. A Eunique Chan basket midway through the third quarter made it an eight-point ballgame.
UE then had momentum swing their way just before the final period as the Lady Warriors closed out the third quarter with a Love Sto. Domingo trey to cut NU’s lead to just seven points.
Amidst the threat of a potential UE comeback, Lady Bulldogs head coach Patrick Aquino remained calm on the bench. Aquino, though, felt that the Lady Bulldogs needed to be more aggressive.
“Medyo nag-rerelax pa,” noted the Lady Bulldogs mentor.
NU were able to lead as much as eleven points after the fourth quarter commenced. That should have been enough, but UE refused to throw the white towel as Ruth Tacula almost single-handedly brought back the Lady Warriors back in the game when her free throw cut the Lady Bulldogs’ lead to seven points.
Baskets from Sto. Domingo and Chan then made the prospect of a UE comeback a real possibility as NU were left reeling as their advantage was cut to just five points. Afterwards, a Chan basket brought UE closer as it was 58-61 with roughly a minute left in the game.
In the end, though, NU displayed their end-game composure as UE failed to hit the shot from beyond the arc which would have tied the game. Monique Del Carmen was fouled and she converted one freebie to secure a 62-58 victory at UE’s expense.
“It’s probably the level of confidence was so high after the first half and then siguro they tend to relax,” stated Aquino after the game who added that he had faith in his players when it comes to clutch periods. “You know naman kasi last year they dominated every game. They tend to go back. Sabi ko nga you don’t have to go back. You just have to learn from last year.”
The next game of the Lady Bulldogs (1-0) will be against the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles (1-0) on Sunday, September 11 at 10:00AM at the Araneta Coliseum. The Lady Warriors (0-1), on the other hand, play a day earlier against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses (0-1) on September 10 at 8:00AM.
The Scores:
NU (62) – Miranda 18, Bernardino 14, Nabalan 14, Itesi 6, Animam 4, Del Carmen 3, Ceno 3, Camelo 0, Layug 0, Harada 0.
UE (58) – Tacula 18, Chan 14, Sto. Domingo 13, Requiron 5, Francisco 4, Ramos 2, Mendina 2, Gayacao 0, Relova 0, Cortizano 0.
Quarterscores: 21-14, 45-29, 51-44, 62-58.
