Playing its first 5-on-5 game since November 2019, six-time defending champion National University is still the same old beast, crushing University of the East by 84, 131-47, in the UAAP Season 85 women’s basketball tournament, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Bulldogs stretched their historic winning streak to 97, dating back to 2014.
NU recorded the most points in the league’s women’s basketball history since the computerization of stats, surpassing University of Santo Tomas’ 129 points on September 22, 2018 against University of the Philippines.
“We’re just happy na bumalik na ‘yung basketball for women’s, ang tagal naming hinintay and I wanna congratulate the girls for starting this season with a convincing win,” said Lady Bulldogs coach Aris Dimaunahan after his record-breaking debut.
“It was a statement to the UAAP that we’re back. New coach, new players, but we still have the same culture and same goals,” said Camille Clarin, who led the onslaught with 22 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
During previous coach Pat Aquino’s time with NU, their highest scoring output was 112 against De La Salle University back on September 11, 2019, which was eclipsed by Dimaunahan right away.
NU stamped its class right from the opening jump, zooming to a 38-11 first quarter before holding the Lady Warriors to just two points in the second while dropping another 30 points to enter the half up big, 68-13.
The domination continued in the second half, reaching the 100-point mark with less than two minutes left in the third period.
Karl Pingol had 16 points, six rebounds, and six of the 22 steals of the Lady Bulldogs.
Tin Cayabyab added 14 points while Annick Tiky had 11 points and eight rebounds in her first and only year for NU.
Angel Surada tallied the game’s only double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Gypsy Canuto got seven points and 10 assists.
They feasted on the Lady Warriors’ 35 turnovers, scoring 40 easy points off them, while also having 41 fastbreak points.
Joyce Terrinal and Kamba Kone paced UE with 10 points apiece.
NU will next face Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday, 11 am, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. The Lady Warriors will follow at 1 pm against Far Eastern University.
The Scores:
NU 131 — Clarin 22, Pingol 16, Cayabyab 14, Tiky 11, Fabruada 10, Surada 10, Baroquillo 8, Solis 8, Canuto 7, Ico 7, Betanio 6, Dimaunahan 5, Villareal 3, Bartolo 2, Talas 2.
UE 47 — Terrinal 10, Kone 10, Anastacio 9, Caraig 8, Ordas 4, Tinio 3, Gervacio 2, Lorena 1, Nama 0, Sajol 0, Dela Rosa 0, Paule 0.
Quarterscores: 38-11, 68-13, 102-25, 131-47
