De La Salle University unleashed a dominant second-half surge to overpower the University of the Philippines, 88-59, and secure back-to-back wins in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After a tightly contested first half that saw UP ahead, 39-38, the Lady Archers flipped the switch in the third quarter with a blistering 28-11 run.
Mica Camba and Paulina Anastacio ignited the rally with their outside shooting, while La Salle’s defense clamped down hard to open a 16-point cushion heading into the final frame, 66-50.
From there, La Salle never let up, outscoring UP 50-20 in the second half and leading by as many as 29 points to seal the emphatic victory.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“They just gave their effort defensively, especially in the second half. Our goal lagi is for the other team to score just 10 to 12 points per quarter, and we did that in the second half,” said Lady Archers head coach Cholo Villanueva, who arrived in the second quarter after coaching New Zealand Bluefire-Batangas in the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League semifinals earlier at Villar Coliseum in Las Piñas City.
“I’m very confident with my team na they’re gonna be defending well against this UP team.”
After starting the season with four straight losses, La Salle has finally found its rhythm, improving to 2-4. Meanwhile, UP — which opened the tournament with two consecutive wins — suffered its fourth straight defeat to fall to 2-4, forming a three-way tie with Adamson University.
The three teams sit just one game behind Far Eastern University, currently in solo fourth place with a 3-3 card.
La Salle and Adamson are set to clash on Wednesday in a crucial mid-table matchup.
Anastacio led the Lady Archers with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Camba tallied 13 points, hitting three of her four attempts from long range.
Tricia Mendoza contributed all-around numbers with 13 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block, while Kyla Go nearly posted a double-double with nine points, 10 rebounds, and four steals.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Achrissa Maw paced UP with 10 points, nine rebounds, five blocks, four steals, and three assists, while Camille Nolasco and Louna Ozar each added 10 points.
The Fighting Maroons will try to end their first-round skid when they face the unbeaten University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses on Wednesday.
The Scores:
DLSU (88) – Anastacio 18, Mendoza 13, Camba 13, Go 9, Lubrico 7, Villarin 6, A. Dizon 6, Delos Reyes 5, Dela Paz 4, Araza 3, Sunga 2, S. Dizon 2, Catalan 0, Villapando 0, Salado 0.
UP (59) – Nolasco 10, Maw 10, Ozar 10, Solitarion 6, Cunanan 6, Vingno 4, Mejasco 4, Mendoza 4, Barba 3, Tapawan 2, Castro 0.
Quarterscores: 18-19, 38-39, 66-50, 88-59.
