Angel Surada was a force on both ends of the court, coming just one rebound shy of a triple-double, as National University overwhelmed a Sarah Makanjoula-less Ateneo de Manila University, 69-47, to secure its sixth straight win in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
The Lady Bulldogs’ suffocating defense defined the third quarter. They held the Blue Eagles to just four points on a woeful 1-of-18 shooting stretch, and heading into the final period with a commanding 48-36 lead.
That cushion proved more than enough as NU kept the pressure on in the fourth, cementing their hold on solo second place in the eight-team field with a 7-1 record.
“Defensively, very happy and satisfied kami with how we defended. Medyo minamalas lang kami nung first half, we could not shoot those easy baskets. Pero sabi ko okay lang ‘yan, as long as we’re defending that way, okay lang. Papasok din yan eventually,” said NU head coach DA Olan.
“Yun yung good thing na nangyari sa amin at nagpanalo sa amin for the past few seasons. It’s really just continuing what we’re good at, which is yung depensa namin,” he added.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Ateneo was without Nigerian center Sarah Makanjoula, who served a one-game suspension after committing two Category 2 unsportsmanlike fouls in the Blue Eagles’ 84-77 victory over Far Eastern University last Wednesday.
The absence was felt immediately, as Ateneo’s only field goal of the third quarter came from reigning two-time UAAP MVP Kacey dela Rosa with 43 seconds left in the frame.
NU quickly dashed any hopes of a comeback. Inside hits by Marylene Solis and Surada, coupled with a reverse layup by Marga Villanueva, extended the lead to 62-40 with just over four minutes remaining.
Following up on an 83-79 first-round win on October 18, this victory also marked NU’s 21st straight triumph over Ateneo dating back to Season 76 in 2013.
The Blue Eagles last defeated the Lady Bulldogs in the second round of Season 75.
Surada came close to Season 88’s first triple-double, finishing with 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting, 11 steals, and nine rebounds.
Tin Cayabyab contributed 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, along with three assists and three steals. Meanwhile, Villanueva added 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Betanio overcame an early injury scare to tally nine points on three triples, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
With the loss, Ateneo remained in third place but dropped to a 5-3 record.
Dela Rosa led the Blue Eagles with 18 points, scoring 16 of them in the first half on 5-of-11 shooting. She also added 15 rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and one assist.
Malagar chipped in eight points and three rebounds.
The Blue Eagles had kept pace in the first half, rallying from a 24-36 deficit to cut the gap to just four, with Dela Rosa already recording a double-double.
Both teams will return to action on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
NU aims for a seventh straight win against a struggling University of the Philippines at 10:00 AM. On the other hand, Ateneo opens the six-game slate at 8:00 AM against FEU.
The Scores:
NU (69) – Surada 22, Cayabyab 11, Villanueva 11, Betanio 9, Solis 8, Pingol 2, Canindo 2, Ico 2, Pring 1, Garcia 1, D. Medina 0, S. Medina 0, Alterado 0.
Ateneo (47) – Dela Rosa 18, Malagar 8, Cancio 6, Villacruz 4, Cruza 3, De Luna 2, Lopez 2, Olivenza 2, Oani 1, Chan 1, Batongbakal 0, Lopez 0, Fetalvero 0.
Quarterscores: 13-10, 36-32, 48-36, 69-47.
