National University needed a late-game push to push De La Salle University to the brink of elimination, with a score of 73-64, and to maintain its firm grip on the top spot in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
With the Lady Bulldogs leading by just four, Jainaba Konateh and Ann Pingol combined for seven unanswered points.
They put up an 11-point lead with 1:47 left in the game, shrugging off the Lady Archers’ strong resistance, resulting in a score of 71-60.
“It’s one of our games that we cannot find a groove consistently. Actually, that was the challenge right before the tip-off, for us to find some consistency in our game,” lamented NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan on their performance despite the win.
Jainaba Konateh, the 19-year-old Gambian standout for the Lady Bulldogs, played her best game yet. She produced 17 points and 17 rebounds in 24 minutes and 42 seconds of playing time.
She also stepped up significantly as seniors Camille Clarin, Angel Surada, and Tin Cayabyab all had an off night for NU.
“Jainaba I guessed was the only big of us that was not in foul trouble… I’m just glad Jainabah didn’t have foul trouble this morning today. She played her role of getting the rebounds and trying to score if she had the opportunity,” said Dimaunahan.
Clarin went 1-of-10 from the field and finished with just five points, three rebounds, and three steals, with three turnovers.
Surada battled foul trouble and only managed four points and seven rebounds in 10 minutes and 54 seconds.
Meanwhile, Cayabyab missed all six of his field goal attempts, finishing with just one point.
The Lady Bulldogs extended their winning streak to eight games, improving their record to 10-1.
They are a game and a half ahead of the second-placed University of the Philippines, which will face Far Eastern University later on.
The Lady Archers fell to 4-7, needing to win all of their remaining games while hoping the 7-4 Ateneo Blue Eagles lose all of theirs for a chance to enter the Final Four.
Trisha Mendoza and Bernice Paraiso both had identical performances with 13 points and nine rebounds each in the losing effort. Luisa Dela Paz also added 10 points.
Aji Bojang, the Lady Archers’ foreign student-athlete, missed her second consecutive game as she was still feeling under the weather, according to head coach Cholo Villanueva.
Both teams will return to action on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. NU will face the University of the East, while La Salle will meet the University of the Philippines.
The Scores:
NU 73 – Konateh 17, Solis 9, Canuto 8, Pingol 8, Bartolo 8, Fabruada 7, Clarin 5, Betanio 5, Surada 4, Cayabyab 1, Ico 1, Berberabe 0, Talas 0.
DLSU 64 – Mendoza 13, Paraiso 13, Dela Paz 10, Sario 7, Binaohan 4, San Juan 4, Sunga 4, Barcieto 4, Delos Reyes 3, Dalisay 2.
Quarterscores: 22-17, 39-34, 56-52, 73-64.
