De La Salle University kept itself in the thick of the Final Four race with a 62-53 victory over Ateneo de Manila University, Sunday in the UAAP Season 82 Women’s Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Charmaine Torres delivered 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists to lead the Lady Archers, who ended a two-game slump and hike their record to 4-5.
“She played very well on both ends. She’s one of our two-way players and she came all-out today, played with pride, and never wanted us to lose today,” said coach Cholo Villanueva of her fourth year guard.
Torres had a big hand in La Salle’s endgame escape, holding Ateneo scoreless after Pam Payac put her side within four, 57-53.
Kent Pastrana also collected 12 points and six boards. Meanwhile, Bennette Revillosa and Lee Sario produced nine points and nine rebounds apiece.
“It was a very emotional game for us. Anytime you go against the other school, it’s always that way. But we just held our composure down the stretch and make the winning plays,” said Villanueva.
The Lady Archers, however, remain on the outside looking in. They stand in fifth place, one-and-a-half games behind third placers FEU and Adamson, both of whom are sitting idle at 6-4.
“It’s going to be a big mountain to climb, but this is the first step,” said Villanueva.
Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles find themselves in danger of bowing out early with their 3-7 record following this third straight loss.
Alyssa Villamor paced Ateneo with 12 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, while Joanne Nimes got 11 points in the defeat.
The Scores:
DLSU 62 –– Torres 17, Pastrana 12, Revillosa 9, Sario 9, Okoli 5, Dalisay 4, Binaohan 2, Paraiso 2, Quingco 2, Espinas 0, Jajurie 0, Jimenez 0, Malarde 0.
Ateneo 53 — Villamor 12, Nimes 11, Yam 10, Guytingco 8, Payac 4, Joson 3, Newsome 3, Chu 2, Moslares 0.
Quarterscores: 18-20, 32-29, 49-42, 62-53.
