Kacey Dela Rosa towed Ateneo de Manila University to a 67-61 victory over University of the Philippines, Sunday in the UAAP Season 85 women’s basketball tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Dela Rosa, a freshman out of Chiang Kai Shek High School, unleashed a monster double-double of 30 points and 20 rebounds to go with seven blocks.
Her statline eclipsed multiple season-highs, surpassing Dindy Medina’s (Adamson) 29 points against University of Santo Tomas last October 1, overtaking Fina Niantcho’s (La Salle) and Kamba Kone’s (UE) 19-rebound efforts — both happening last October 5, and resetting her own mark of six blocks which she set back on October 1 against FEU.
Dela Rosa spearheaded an 11-5 run in the fourth frame, scoring nine, to give the Blue Eagles a nine-point lead with 1:07 left, 64-55.
But Christie Bariquit nailed four straight points to pull the Fighting Maroons back within five, 59-64, with 37.1 seconds to go.
However, Dela Rosa and Jhazmin Joson iced the game from the stripe.
“We really expect a lot from Shaq and Kobe. That’s what I call them (Dela Rosa and Joson),” said Ateneo head coach LA Mumar.
“I also commend my other players, si Sandra Villacruz, Lj Miranda, and Junize Calago when they do their stuff, it allows these two to do their stuff.”
Joson also dropped a triple-double of 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Sandra Villacruz got 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Ateneo arrested its three-game funk and improved to 2-3 to tie the UP and Adamson University for joint fourth.
Kaye Pesquera led the Fighting Maroons with 16 points while Bariquit got 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The Blue Eagles will break its tie with the Lady Falcons on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. UP, meanwhile, will face University of the East.
The Scores:
Ateneo 67 – Dela Rosa 30, Villacruz 12, Joson 11, Calago 6, Miranda 4, Nieves 4, Eufemiano 0, Cruza 0.
UP 61 – Pesquera 16, Bariquit 13, Lozada 9, Tapawan 8, Sanchez 5, Vingno 4, Domingo 2, Maw 2, Jimenez 2, Sauz 0, Rivera 0, Larrosa 0, Gonzales 0.
Quarterscores: 20-22, 35-39, 53-50, 67-61.
