Enderun Colleges entered the history books as it bagged its fourth consecutive Women’s Division championship in the 19th season of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (NAASCU).
It was not easy as the Lady Titans were pushed to the limit by Our Lady of Fatima University, 72-62, at the Jesus Christ Saves Global Outreach Friday thus ending via a clean sweep, not just the best of three series but also the entire season.
This is the Lady Titans’ 17th straight win, last experiencing a loss back in Game Two of the 2017 Finals.
For the first time this season, the Lady Titans saw themselves ahead by only single digits late in the fourth period after Gift Ferrer converted two free throws followed by a Kim Gutierrez triple to put the Lady Phoenix within eight, 58-66, and 3:12 to play.
However, a free throw split from Kate Marcos and a basket by Caren Baylosis restored the double digit lead entering the last two minutes, 70-58.
Baylosis topped Enderun with 17 points and five rebounds and in the process getting the nod as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She was followed by Cinderella Lopez who notched 12 points and six rebounds, enough to earn Rookie of the Year honors.
Joining Baylosis in the Mythical Five were teammate Mary Grace Calang, Chrislyn Mier of Technological University of the Philippines and the Lady Phoenix tandem of Ylyssa Eufemiano and Kristel Escotido. For the fourth year in a row, Enderun’s Haydee Ong was chosen as Coach of the Year.
Eufemiano had 16 points and seven rebounds in the losing effort. Escotido was next with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists as she joined Eufemiano in slowly erasing Enderun’s biggest lead of the game early in the third, 51-28.
The Lady Titans took the series opener, 80-58, last Wednesday at the Caloocan Sports Complex. Abigail Manzanares starred for Enderun with 22 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
The Scores:
Enderun (72) – Baylosis 17, Lopez 12, Calang 10, Manzanares 8, Gonzalez 6, Pumaren 6, Chapa 5, Marcos 3, Pangilinan 3, Geli 2, Nordesta 0.
Fatima (62) – Eufemiano 16, Escotido 12, Gutierrez 8, Servillon 8, Naplaza 5, Beltran 5, Ferrer 4, Motol 2, Tuazon 2, Sto Domingo 0.
Quartercores: 23-14, 43-26, 55-44, 72-62.
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