By all accounts, the National University got another customany win in the UAAP Season 85 Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs’ latest victory – a 100-66 drubber at the expense of the Adamson University Lady Falcons – extended their winning streak to 101 consecutive wins and they had five players who scored in double digits.
Despite those circumstances, the NU team expressed how impressed they were with Adamson standout Dindy Medina, who led all scorers with 28 points on the back of nine-out-of-17 shooting.
“It’s always hard to play against Dindy Medina. We played against her sa 3×3. I saw her play sa 3×3, talagang grabe ang scoring prowess niya,” said Lady Bulldogs mentor Aris Dimaunahan. “I thought kailangan namin siya i-limit o i-stop today but I also thought we failed to do so. She scored 28 points against us so talagang magaling yung bata.
“Actually, I even invited her to Gilas training after nung 3×3. I talked to her. I invited her to come over and practice with us pero hindi nangyari.”
Medina proved to be a thorn against NU for the 35 minutes she was on the floor.
The San Marcelino rookie was able to convert 8-out-of-11 two-point attempts and sank nine-out-of-13 from the charity stripe.
One player from the Lady Bulldogs, though, rose to the occasion to counter Medina’s heroics on the floor.
After four games which saw her only average eight points each, Kristine Cayabyab was a woman on a mission as she produced 19 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists for NU in 23 minutes of action.
“Para sa akin po, feeling ko ito na yung, nag-start ulit ako kase after apat na games, hindi talaga naging maganda. Inangat talaga ako ng mga teammates ko especially coach Aris yung kumpyansa ko,” said the Dagupan City native.
“Sobrang thankful ako sa teammates ko dahil binigyan nila ako ng opportunity maging part ulit sa team.”
Cayabyab’s showing on the offensive end somewhat mitigated the damage being done by Medina.
It was also a way to bounce back because Medina was just simply too hard to defend against.
“Actually, chinallenge din ako ni coach Aris na kailangan i-stop siya ng eight points pero yun nga sabi din ni coach Aris grabe din yung respeto niya sa player na yun,” said Cayabyab.
“Para sa akin, ginawa ko rin ang best ko pero sobrang galing niya.”
Without a doubt, it will be interesting to see how Dimaunahan, Cayabyab, and the rest of the Lady Bulldogs will adjust in the second round to thwart Medina’s production.
Regardless, though, the Adamsonian earned the respect for the six-time defending champions.
“Again, sobrang may respeto ako sa batang yun. Magaling na player and I wish her luck sa UAAP career niya,” closed Dimaunahan.
