A place in the UAAP Season 79 Women’s Basketball Final Four is still on the horizon for the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles after they prevailed 47-44 over the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons.
“One, we have to be more composed when the opposing team is rallying. Second, it was most of the elements from the second unit which saved the day for us. It was a challenge defending Maan Wong, but the girls contained her as best as they could,” commented Ateneo mentor John Flores.
Hazelle Yam led the Blue and While with 10 points today at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City. Yam was followed by Alyssa Villamor who scored nine points.
The Katipunan-based squad enjoyed a hot start in the game as a Jollina Go basket gave the Lady Eagles their highest lead of the ballgame early in the second quarter at 24-10.
UP, though, was able to cut the deficit to a single digit from the efforts of Patricia Pesquera and Christine Aliermo as the Lady Eagles amassed a 28-19 cushion at the break.
Upon the game’s resumption, the Lady Maroons threatened to mount a comeback against the Lady Eagles. Late in the third quarter, Maan Wong scored inside the paint to make it 31-34. A Kristine Deacon basket then allowed Ateneo to have a 36-31 lead before the final period.
The Lady Maroons maintained their bombardment of the Lady Eagles in the fourth quarter. Nicole Medina converted the charities which made the scoreline read 41-40 with just 1:48 left in the contest.
State U sensed blood, but it failed to score in their next possessions. Villamor then unleashed a trey with only 30.5 seconds left to create a 44-40 separation from the Lady Maroons.
Medina quickly scored to slice it to a 44-42 margin which left Flores calling for a timeout. Jonette Uy De Ong was then fouled in the play and she calmly slotted home both charities to lengthen the lead once again at 46-42.
Similar to their last possession, Medina kept UP in the game at 46-44 with only 6.6 seconds left. Deacon was then fouled afterwards and her free throw secured a 47-44 Ateneo escape away from UP.
Ateneo outgunned UP from the field and beyond the arc with 31.25 percent and 17.65 percent respectively compared to the latter’s 25.76 percent and 0.00 percent.
Ateneo (4-6) shall face Adamson University at 10:00 AM while UP (1-8) will play University of the East on at 8:00 AM. Both games will be held on October 23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
“Like it’s our last game. That’s how we’ll prepare,” answered Flores when asked about how Ateneo will get ready for Adamson. He added, “When you play Adamson, we have to not just match their level scrappiness. We have to go beyond that.”
The Scores:
ADMU (47) – Yam 10, Villamor 9, Cancio 7, Deacon 7, Go 6, Uy De Ong 4, Newsome 4, Guytingco 0, Tomita 0.
UP (44) – Medina 12, Wong 9, Pesquera 7, Esplana 6, Aliermo 6, Bautista 4, Rodas 0, Ordoveza 0, Franco 0, Lapid 0, Cruz 0, Tan 0.
Quarterscores: 14-8, 28-19, 36-31 47-44.
