Far Eastern University pulled away from University of the East, 70-53, to strengthen its bid for the final UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Final Four spot, Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Led by Amyah Espanol, the Lady Tamaraws secured their second straight victory, improving to a 6-7 record.
They share fourth place with fellow Final Four contender Adamson University Lady Falcons, with one game remaining in the eliminations for each team.
Eager to return to the postseason for the first time since their third-place finish in Season 82, this win gives FEU crucial momentum ahead of a pivotal clash against the still-unbeaten University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday, November 26, also at the Big Dome.
The Lady Falcons, meanwhile, face semifinal-bound Ateneo Blue Eagles (8-4) on Sunday.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Na-explain and na-tackle naman namin how important this game was. Alam nila na coming into this game, we have to win this game kasi it’s a must-win game,” Lady Tamaraws head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy said.
“By winning this game, tied kami with Adamson. We have one more game left against UST, and Adamson as well one game left tomorrow, kaya crucial itong final stretch,” the FEU legend continued.
Down 35-21 at halftime, UE opened the third quarter with 10 straight points to cut the deficit to 35-31.
However, FEU responded at the perfect moment, unleashing a decisive 19-8 run — highlighted by a Max Dela Torre midrange jumper and an and-one conversion by Lorelie Garavan — to take a 54-39, 15-point lead.
That surge in the third quarter proved pivotal, as in the fourth period, key baskets by Shem Abatayo, Dela Torre, and Joann Nagma kept the Lady Warriors down 63-46 with 5:17 remaining.
Espanol finished with 21 points, six rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Abatayo was one assist shy of a double-double, tallying 10 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and three steals.
Shane Salvani added nine points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Garavan contributed seven points and one rebound.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UE closed Season 88 with 24 straight losses, finishing winless at 0-14 in Ian Valdez’s first year as head coach.
This marks the program’s second winless campaign in three seasons, following a similar record in Season 86, continuing the post–Ai Lebornio era.
Rachel Lacayanga was limited to 15 points on 4-of-18 shooting but added eight rebounds, three steals, and one assist. Meanwhile, Syvil Onate and Kezza Buscar contributed 11 points apiece.
The Scores:
FEU (70) – Espanol 21, Abatayo 10, Salvani 9, Garavan 7, Manguiat 6, Villanueva 6, Dela Torre 4, Nagma 3, Patio 2, Pasilang 2, Lopez 0, Ong 0, Agcambot 0, Casais 0.
UE (53) – Lacayanga 15, Onate 11, Buscar 11, Dalguntas 5, Ronquillo 5, Gulin 3, Delig 3, Lumibao 0, Yanez 0, Trinidad 0, Lituania 0, Ramos 0, Solomon 0, Salise 0, Gomez 0.
Quarterscores: 17-12, 35-21, 54-41, 70-53.
