National University sealed a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday with a resounding 76-61 drubbing of Adamson University at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Bulldogs, who are on a 10-game winning streak with an average of 17.6 points, improved their record to 12-1, which sealed the top seed.
They are already two games ahead of the UST Growling Tigresses and UP Fighting Maroons with only one game left for each team.
The defending, seven-time champions will face Ateneo de Manila University in the Final Four.
“We’re happy to be able to do that but we’re not satisfied with what we’ve done,” said second-year Lady Bulldogs head coach Aris Dimaunahan.
“We’re just happy to get a win today in preparation for the next coming games. We really need wins going into the playoffs,” the former interim Blackwater head coach continued.
From a slender five-point cushion during halftime, the Lady Bulldogs turned up the heat in the third quarter.
Karl Pingol, Camille Clarin, Rhocel Bartolo, Angel Surada, and Princess Fabruada erected a 57-39 cushion with two minutes left in the period to effectively put the game to bed for NU.
The Lady Bulldogs then coasted towards the final buzzer. Gypsy Canuto, Clarin, and Marylene Solis combined to give NU its biggest lead at 70-51 with 4:32 remaining in the contest.
Clarin broke out of her slump to lead NU with 15 points followed by Bartolo’s 10 points. Lady Bulldogs point guard Stef Berbarabe had six assists to go along with her four points and four steals.
“I think every game has been an opportunity to be better. We need to raise the pressure and raise the level of play that we bring each game, especially moving forward to the playoffs,” said Clarin, a third-year winger.
NU will seek vengeance against University of the Philippines, which seeks to keep its hopes alive for a playoff incentive, this Saturday at 11:00 AM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
On the other hand, the Lady Falcons, who are in the midst of a three-game slide, fell to 3-10 in the standings. They are tied with the FEU Lady Tamaraws in the sixth to seventh spots.
Cheska Apag and Victoria Adeshina scored 15 points each to lead Adamson while Elaine Etang contributed 10 points.
Adamson will look to end its campaign on a high note against fellow also-ran Far Eastern University this Sunday at 9:00 AM at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
NU 70 – Clarin 15, Bartolo 10, Cayabyab 9, Betanio 8, Canuto 7, Surada 6, Solis 6, Pingol 5, Berbarabe 4, Konateh 4, Fabruada 2, Alterado 0, Alcantara 0, Talas 0, Ico 0.
Adamson 55 – Apag 15, Adeshina 15, Etang 10, Alaba 8, Bajo 4, Dumelod 4, Dampios 3, Limbago 2, Mazo 0, Agojo 0, Padilla 0, Carcallas 0, Meniano 0, Cortez 0.
Quarterscores: 20-14, 40-35, 59-45, 76-61.
