The National University Lady Bulldogs continue to stamp their class on the rest of the league.
After blowing out the Growling Tigresses by 54 points in their first round encounter, the defending two-time UAAP champions cruised past the season-hosts anew, 71-49, to go to 11-0, Saturday afternoon at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Three Lady Bulldogs notched double-doubles in the win led by Afril Bernardino’s 24 points and 14 rebounds. Gemma Miranda had 14 points and 10 rebounds wile Jack Animam added 12 points and 16 rebounds, nine coming from the offensive end.
The blowout win though did not come easy for the Lady Bulldogs as they struggled from the field, shooting just 2-of-20 from downtown. But for NU head coach Patrick Aquino, it was just one of those days from the field.
“There are times na talaga minsan hindi pumapasok,” he said. “Still, I just told them to make it a point to do things in our system and don’t go out of it. Alam kasi nila kaya nila manalo but I always remind them to be in the system.”
“Maybe we missed some shots from the three-points but na-cocomplement naman ng iba.”
And this time, it was NU’s defense that played a key for win number 43.
Bernardino and the Lady Bulldogs locked down the hapless Tigresses during the first half as the lady cagers from Espana struggled to even find an opening. UST shot just 7-of-35 from the field during the first half, scoring nine points each during the first two quarters of the game.
“[For the] first three quarters, hindi kami maka-shoot. There was a time in the middle of the first quarter na hindi naman ganoon. It all comes down to experience plus maturity ng mga players nila,” UST head coach Haydee Ong said.
NU’s lead grew to as high as 35 points, 65-30, with 7:39 remaining in the game after a faux three-point play after a split on the stripe by Miranda was cleaned up by Jack Animam.
The sole bright spot for the Tigresses in the game was that they were able to end the game on a 17-6 rally behind Sanda Anies and Bettina Penaflor.
UST ended the game shooting just 30 percent from the field. Moreover, they were outrebounded 57 to 32 that led to a 17 to six advantage in the second chance points department.
Jhenn Angeles and Anies scored 11 points each for UST. Penaflor added 10 markers.
The NU Bulldogs (11-0) will have a long break before returning to UAAP action on Saturday, November 5 against the FEU Lady Tamaraws (3-7). On the other hand, the UST Growling Tigresses (3-7) play in a virtual do-or-die game on Wednesday, October 26 against the Adamson Lady Falcons (4-6). Both games will be played at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
NU (71) – Bernardino 24, Miranda 14, Animam 12, Itesi 8, Ceno 6, Camelo 3, Del Carmen 2, Nabalan 2, Harada 0, Layug 0, Lopez 0, Taneza 0, Malana 0.
UST (49) – Angeles 11, Anies 11, Penaflor 10, Larosa 7, Felisarta 4, Capilit 2, Gandalla 2, Magdaluyo 2, Aujero 0, Jerez 0, Manuel 0, Portillo 0, Rivera 0, Sangalang 0.
Quarterscores: 23-9, 38-18, 57-27, 71-49.
