The unforgiving National University snatched the first Final Four slot of the UAAP Season 78 women’s basketball tournament after a 75-49 destruction of Adamson University Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The reigning champions secured their 10th straight victory of the season and are also assured of a twice-to-beat advantage.
Leading MVP candidate Afril Bernardino was top scorer with another double-double of 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting and 10 rebounds for NU. Shelley Gupilan added 12 points while 10 other Lady Bulldogs were able to get on the score sheet.
NU scored 30-18 in the second half to bury the Lady Falcons, who have lost their last seven outings and now have a 3-7 record, having been tied 6th-7th with University of the Philippines.
Bernardino fueled the early attack of the Lady Bulldogs as she kept scoring inside. The Sampaloc side went up 32-14, before a 9-0 Adamson run with a barrage of triples from Jamie Alcoy made in 32-23.
Gupilan, however, led a 13-5 counter attack by NU to hold a comfortable 45-31 halftime margin, before going relentlessly in the second half to lead by as much as 29 points.
Adamson committed a whopping 38 turnovers which led to 40 points for NU. NU also dominated the interior, hitting 46 points in the paint.
Alcoy paced Adamson with 22 points on 6-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc but no other Lady Falcon finished in double-digits.
The Scores:
NU (75) – Bernardino 19, Gupilan 12, Paig 9, Abriam 8, Itesi 7, Miranda 5, Animam 3, Sison 3, Nabalan 3, Riel 3, Layug 2, Tongco 1, Antiquiera 0, Reyes 0, Harada 0, Del Carmen 0.
ADU (49) – Alcoy 22, Diaz 6, Lacson 5, Ido 3, Generoso 3, Camacho 3, Osano 3, Tabanao 2, Ramillano 2, Arajo 0, Cochico 0, Tacitac 0, Pingol 0, Aciro 0.
Quarterscores: 24-10, 45-31, 55-37, 75-49.
