41 consecutive wins and still counting.
The National University Lady Bulldogs got their ninth win in the UAAP Season 79 Women’s Basketball Tournament as they won 80-56 over the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles.
The Sampaloc cagers were led by their big three of Afril Bernardino, Gemma Miranda, and Jack Animam, today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
“The big three played out good again. With the support of Je-Anne Canelo, the outside shooting came out again today. Canelo and Ceño hitting from the outside made it easy for the three to go inside,” commented NU mentor Patrick Aquino.
Bernardino produced 27 points and 10 rebounds, Miranda scored 22 points, and Animam made 12 points and 12 rebounds to rally the Lady Bulldogs above the Lady Eagles.
NU displayed their overwhelming strength in the second quarter. The Lady Eagles were limited to just four points, as a Miranda basket provided the Lady Bulldogs a 49-21 edge at halftime.
The Lady Bulldogs maintained didn’t allow their intensity to drop, with Bernardino scoring to make it 62-29, late in the third quarter. Canelo then unleashed a trey to make it 67-33 in NU’s favor just before the final period.
Deep in the fourth quarter, Bernardino gave NU their biggest lead of the game at 78-39. In the end, the Lady Bulldogs prevailed 80-56 over the Lady Eagles.
The Aquino-coached team shot a staggering 38.89 percent from beyond the arc compared to Lady Eagles’ 10 percent. NU were also more efficient with their shots, making 51.56 percent field goals while Ateneo only made 33.33 percent.
Up next for NU (9-0) will be Adamson University on at 3:00 PM, while Ateneo (3-6) shall face the University of the Philippines at 1:00 PM. Both games will be held on October 18 at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
Aquino, however, has downplayed talk of a sweep.
“I always say we take it one game at a time. Hopefully and I wish we could do it straight again, but at the moment I’ll take it one game at a time and at the moment we’ll be getting ready for Adamson,” Aquino asserted.
The Scores:
NU (80) – Bernardino 27, Miranda 22, Animam 12, Camelo 9, Ceño 6, Nabalan 2, Harada 2, Del Carmen 0, Itesi 0, Layug 0, Taneza 0, Malana 0, Rebadulla 0.
ADMU (56) – Villamor 11, Cancio 10, Newsome 8, Go 8, Tomita 6, Yam 4, Moslares 4, Uy De Ong 2, Guytingco 2, Deacon 1, Payac 0.
Quarterscores: 23-17, 49-21, 67-33, 80-56.
