The National University Lady Bulldogs need just one more game to secure the three-peat.
NU outlasted the De La Salle University Lady Archer, 77-74, to inch closer to the gold medal this Season 79. It was also NU’s 47th consecutive victory, a streak that has spanned three seasons.
“La Salle played well and they were really ready for this game,” commented NU mentor Pat Aquino. “Sabi ko nga baka we’re not ready. We’re rusty. But at the end of the it’s a good win for us.”
Gemma Miranda produced 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting and 15 rebounds, but it was Ria Nabalan who sealed the win when she sunk in six out of her 11 points in the game’s dying moments.
Jack Animam, Rhena Itesi, and Afril Bernardino also chipped 14, 11, and 10 points respectively, today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Underdogs they may be, but the Lady Archers showed more intensity in the first half. The Lady Bulldogs secured a slim 20-19 edge at the end of the first quarter, as the challengers were able to match the champions point for point.
It was in the second quarter that La Salle went full steam ahead. NU enacted a 7-0 run capped off by Miranda to lead 26-19, but La Salle answered back with their own 7-0 run, ignited by Camille Claro’s trey, to level the scores at 26-26.
From that moment, the Lady Archers pulled away from the Lady Bulldogs up to the end of the half. La Salle limited NU to just two points deep in the period, as the former achieved their highest lead of the ballgame via a Khate Castilo lay-up, earning a 28-39 advantage going into the break.
“At first we really can’t break that press and (the players) were not following the instructions and they were siguro rattled and probably hindi sila composed on what they’re doing. They tend to be individualistic and yun yung nangyari,” explained Aquino.
Once the third quarter commenced, the Lady Bulldogs displayed better execution on both ends of the floor. NU limited La Salle to just 10 points in that period as the latter failed to convert due to the former’s defense.
Four straight points from Miranda gave NU the lead back at 43-41, and a Je-anne Camelo trey extended the tally to 54-43 late in the period. NU ended the third quarter with a 56-49 cushion.
The Lady Bulldogs looked well on their way to victory when Animam’s basket gave the Lady Bulldogs their biggest lead at 67-55 with just 4:20 left in the game.
But undeterred, the Lady Archers fought back with five consecutive treys by Claro and Castillo to give themselves hope at 71-70 at the 1:05 mark of the the fourth quarter.
After that, it was Nabalan time. Nabalan sunk her first trey to extend NU’s edge at 74-70. After Bennett Revillosa trimmed the deficit to just two points, Nabalan converted another trey with just 23.4 seconds left to make it 77-72.
In the end, NU won 77-74 against La Salle. Castillo led La Salle with 18 points, while Snow Peñaranda provided a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Claro and Revillosa scored 15 and 14 points respectively.
“It’s a good thing Ria Nabalan hit those threes. Unexpected, but somebody stepping up aside from the big three. It’s good for me. She’s one of the best players I have. Yung confidence ko hindi nawawala sa kanya,” shared Aquino.
NU dominated the boards, who had 48 rebounds compared to La Salle’s 35. In contrast, La Salle forced NU to make 26 turnovers from which 27 points were produced.
NU have a chance to clinch the championship on December 7, 11:00 AM, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. On the other hand, La Salle will want to force a third game which shall be played on December 11, 11:00 AM at the Mall of Asia Arena if needed.
“We have to prepare hard again. I told my coaching staff we really have to learn from this. It’s not easy playing against La Salle. I know they wanna get back at us so we need to get ready,” declared Aquino.
The Scores:
NU (77) – Miranda 23, Animam 14, Nabalan 11, Itesi 11, Bernardino 10, Camelo 3, Ceno 3, Del Carmen 2.
DLSU (74) – Castillo 18, Penaranda 16, Claro 15, Revillosa 14, Nunez 7, Arciga 2, Vergara 2, Vela 0.
Quarterscores: 20-19, 28-39, 56-49, 77-74.
