On the brink of a disastrous finish to what has been a roller-coaster season, the University of the East Lady Warriors showed mental toughness to edge the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 44-41, in the UAAP Season 78 women’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Skipper Cherry Ano-os drilled a huge four-point play in the fourth quarter to give the Lady Warriors a 39-33 margin, before the Recto crew came through with stops to salvage the win and improve to 5-6.
UE now tie the University of Santo Tomas in third, as both squads have 5-6 records. The Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines trail behind with 4-7 slates, while FEU dropped to 2-9.
The Lady Warriors established their biggest lead at 35-28 in the final period before a basket by Elaisa Adriano and a triple by Loraine Ventura cut the deficit down to 35-33.
That was when Ano-os answered with a four-point play to quash the rally and cushion UE’s lead.
Back-to-back baskets by Clare Castro made it 39-37 but Nicole Mendina converted on a long range shot to make it 42-37.
UE managed to maintain the lead and hold on for the rest of the game.
Mendina chipped in 9 points while Love Joy Sto. Domingo had 8 points and 10 rebounds for UE.
Ventura topscored for FEU with 11 points including two treys while Precious Arellado and Castro both had 10 markers.
Scores:
UE (44) – Ano-os 16, Mendina 9, Sto. Domingo 8, Tacula 3, Taguiam 3, Francisco 2, Chan 2, Sampaga 1, Ramos 0, Gayacao 0, Bale 0.
FEU (41) – Ventura 11, Arellado 10, Castro 10, Payadon 4, Adriano 3, Quiapo 3, Okunlola 0, Hortaleza 0, Baldonado 0, Abat 0, Gerner 0.
Quarterscores: 9-11, 19-17, 29-24, 44-41.
