The National University Lady Bulldogs inched one game closer to clinching a final four berth after trumping the Adamson University Lady Falcons, 71-60, Wednesday morning at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Gemma Miranda led NU with 21 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, and was perfect from the field in the second half. The Lady Bulldogs started strong, taking a 13-4 lead early in the first quarter. The Lady Falcons would however rally to close the gap, holding NU to only two more points while scoring seven more, leading to a 15-11 for the Lady Bulldogs coming into the second quarter.
The duo of Gemma Miranda and Afril Bernardino would continue to rake in points for NU, leading the Lady Bulldogs to a 35-25 lead by halftime. NU’s offensive barrage would immediately resume as soon as the third quarter opened, with Shelley Gupilan and Miranda helping the Lady Bulldogs bag seven straight points and take the early 17-point lead.
Adamson’s Jingky Balasta and Zhalyn Mateo would come alive in the fourth quarter to keep the fire alive for Adamson. However, unable to find a way to stifle the Lady Bulldogs’ scorching offense, the Falcons would find themselves in a seventeen-point hole entering the final two minutes of the ballgame.
A late rally by the Lady Falcons would see the Lady Bulldogs’ lead trimmed cut to single digits in the final minute, but with time on their side, NU’s second stringers had no trouble holding the fort and held on to the win.
Afril Bernardino also contributed 19 points and brought down 12 rebounds for NU. Jingky Balasta and Zhalyn Mateo had 13 and 12 markers respectively for the Lady Falcons. The Lady Bulldogs remain unbeaten at 9-0, while the Lady Falcons fall to 4-5.
