For the second time in the UAAP Season 79 Women’s Basketball Tournament, the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons clinched a win as they outlasted the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws 46-44.
“Again we were hoping to win this game. Same as the first win in the first round, we had to weeks to prepare so same result. I’m happy for the players especially for the graduating (ones). We have five players who are graduating and they deserve this win,” commented UP mentor Kenneth Raval.
Maan Wong led the Lady Maroons with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Similarly, Patricia Pesquera scored 12 points, but was a rebound short of a double-double today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Pesquera, though, was clutch as it was her five straight points late in the game which won the game for UP.
It was a tight game from the start as FEU secured a slim 13-17 edge at the break. The Lady Tamaraws then enjoyed their biggest lead of the game midway through the third quarter at 17-25 when Angelica Gerner scored in the paint.
UP, though, didn’t back down and they were led by veteran forward Wong. Wong made a three-point play to cut the deficit to 29-26. She then handed the lead to the UP late in the period at 29-30.
The Lady Maroons edged the third quarter out 33-32 and it became a seesaw game between them and the Lady Tamaraws in the fourth quarter. Wong gave UP its highest lead at 40-35 at the 5:59 mark of the period.
FEU them enacted an 8-1 run capped off by Princess Jumuad’s three straight points to earn a slim 41-43 edge with just 40.8 seconds left in the game.
Despite the setback, UP kept its composure and another veteran, Pesquera, scored under the rim to level the ballgame at 43-43 as 29.1 seconds were left in the game.
Possession then went to FEU and Loraine Ventura was fouled, but she was only able to convert one free throw. Staring down a 43-44 deficit with only 16.1 seconds left, UP tried to go for a quick two only for FEU’s defense to repel them.
With nothing to lose and only three seconds left, Pesquera unleashed a Hail Mary shot from beyond the arc which went in much to the delight of the UP part of the arena. In the end, UP won 46-44 over FEU.
Raval shared, “If you were to compare with our previous games, it’s more on the composure. We were able to hang in there even if they were able to hang in there even if (FEU) were giving us 7-0 runs, but we were there. We were playing hard, aggressive on both offense and defense.”
UP shot better from the free throw line with 53 percent against FEU’s 46 percent. Jumuad paced FEU 15 points while Gerner scored six points and produced 18 rebounds for the Lady Tamaraws.
UP (2-11) will face De La Salle University on November 12, 10:00 AM at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. On the other hand, FEU (3-10) will close the season against Adamson University on November 15, 3:00 PM at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
UP (46) – Wong 12, Pesquera 12, Esplana 9, Aliermo 6, Medina 3, Franco 3, Ordoveza 1, Rodas 0, Cruz 0, Lapid 0, Tan 0, Gatpatan 0, Viray 0, Ongsiako 0.
FEU (44) – Jumuad 15, Ventura 8, Gerner 6, Ouano 6, Arellado 5, Mamaril 2, Payadon 2, Balleser 0,’Okunlola 0, Abat 0, Capua 0, Quiapo 0, Bahuyan 0.
Quarterscores: 7-9, 13-17, 33-32, 46-44.
