The Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles outlasted the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws to sail a 58-55win. Led by Danica Jose and Akiko Tomita, the Lady Eagles dismantled a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter and take home their second win of the season.
The Lady Eagles took lead of the game in the first quarter, closing out with a 15-13 lead, but would falter in the second and third quarters, producing a meager 20 points, with the Lady Tamaraws notching 30 markers in the two quarters. Afril Siat led the Morayta-based squad’s third quarter assault to help the Lady Tamaraws close out the third quarter with a 46-40 lead against the squad from Katipunan. However, Akiko Tomita would come off the bench to score six straight points on consecutive baskets to reenergize the struggling Lady Eagles and chip away at the the Lady Tamaraws’ lead. With the game finally tied at 51, Claire Aseron sank a breakaway three to give Ateneo the lead for the first time since the early third quarter , 54-51.
Ateneo, leading 56-55, after another round of baskets, lost the ball to Jacqueline Tanaman with no timeouts left in the last thirty seconds. However, the Lady Tamaraws failed to deliver in the dying seconds of regulation, missing the basket that could have stolen the game for the the team from Morayta. Danica Jose, fouled just as the clock expired after bringing down the board after the FEU’s missed trey, was given two extra free throws post-game to put the icing on the cake for the Lady Eagles.
Jose had 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Aseron had 14 points along with 7 boards. April Siat led the Lady Tamaraws with 13 points and 7 rebounds. The Lady Eagles join the De la Salle Lady Archers and the National University Lady Bulldogs as the first teams to hit 2-0 in the women’s tourney standings after Saturday’s round of games.
