MJ Manguiat drilled the go-ahead triple as Far Eastern University survived a late rally from De La Salle University, 73-72, to capture its first victory in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Determined to bounce back from a 25-point beating at the hands of defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs, the Lady Tamaraws leaned on two clutch treys from Manguiat and the breakout performance of Amyah Espanol to finally enter the win column.
The triumph also gave them sole possession of fifth place in the eight-team field with an even 1-1 record.
“Inisip ko lang din yung sakit na naramdaman namin last year. Nandoon na kami ‘eh, may chance na kami last year. Pero dahil nga hindi namin nakuha, this year babawi kami,” said the fourth-year guard out of FEU High School, who finished with 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, along with two rebounds and two assists.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
La Salle looked poised to pull away after Shemaiah Abatayo sank a floater, then Nigerian center Jimoh Nosifat converted an and-one. Tricia Mendoza split her free throws, before Xyla Lubrico added two from the stripe to seize a 70-67 lead with 1:24 remaining.
But with the Lady Tamaraws on the ropes, Manguiat came alive. She first drilled a triple to tie the game at 70-all with 46 seconds left.
Nosifat answered with a layup to give the Lady Archers a 72-70 cushion, but two missed free throws by Lubrico opened the door for FEU.
Seizing the moment, Manguiat sprinted down the floor and, with a shooter’s bounce, buried the decisive three-pointer that handed FEU the lead with just two seconds remaining.
La Salle still had one last shot at redemption, but Princess Villarin misfired on a potential game-winning three. That allowed FEU to clinch its first win against the Lady Archers since Season 86 — snapping a three-game skid in their head-to-head series.
“Relieved because the last play na naka-convert ang La Salle and lumamang sila ng two points was because of [Manguiat] gambling on defense,” said Lady Tamaraws head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy.
“Medyo male-lessen yung galit ko sa kanya sa dugout but in any way, thankful kami na nakuha namin yung first win namin today. But first round pa lang, focus na agad kami into the next game,” the former UAAP MVP added.
Espanol backed Manguiat with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, along with five rebounds and two steals. Abatayo chipped in 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
Victoria Pasilang added nine points — six coming in the payoff period — while Erica Lopez and Max Dela Torre supplied six apiece in the win.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Lubrico paced the Lady Archers with 16 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Kyla Go nearly notched a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds, while Mica Camba had nine points, three rebounds, and one steal.
Nosifat contributed eight points, six rebounds, and two steals.
Both squads return to action on Sunday, with FEU facing Adamson University and La Salle clashing with rival Ateneo de Manila University at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Scores:
FEU (73) – Manguiat 16, Espanol 14, Abatayo 12, Pasilang 9, Lopez 6, Dela Torre 6, Patio 4, Garavan 2, Nagma 2, Villanueva 2, Salvani 0, Ong 0.
DLSU (72) – Lubrico 16, Go 10, Camba 9, Nosifat 8, Mendoza 7, Villarin 6, Dizon 5, Sunga 4, Dela Paz 3, Villapando 2, Delos Reyes 1, Anastacio 1.
Quarterscores: 15-18, 42-43, 55-51, 73-72.
