University of the Philippines claimed its revenge over first round tormentor Ateneo de Manila University with a decisive 71-48 win to clinch at least a playoff for a Final Four spot in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Basketball Tournament, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
With an 8-2 record, the second-ranked Fighting Maroons are a game ahead of third-running University of Santo Tomas, which dropped to 7-3 after losing to league-leader National University, 77-76 in overtime, earlier in the day.
The Blue Eagles handed the then-6-0 Fighting Maroons their first loss of the season with an 85-76 victory last October 21.
“Really proud of them. We committed ourselves in our game plan and the only thing that we talked about is they’re gonna give all their best every minute that they will play and it really showed,” said UP head coach Paul Ramos.
Kaye Pesquera and Rhea Sanchez’s late-second quarter blitz gave the Fighting Maroons a 10-point cushion at the half, 34-24 from a slim 26-23 lead.
Then UP opened the floodgates in the third period. Louna Ozar and Favour Onoh connived as they led the Fighting Maroons to 26 points while holding the Blue Eagles to just 13 points for a 60-39 advantage heading into the final frame.
“We’re happy for this win but now, we have to stay focused on the next game,” said Ozar, a Filipino-French rookie who posted 17 points, four steals, two rebounds, and two assists.
Onoh added 13 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks while Kaye Pesquera chimed in 11 points, five rebounds, and five steals.
The Blue Eagles slid to 6-4, still at fourth and are ahead by two games against closest chaser De La Salle University at 4-6.
MVP frontrunner Kacey Dela Rosa, who was averaging 19.5 points before this game, was held to just nine points on a woeful 3-of-18 clip from the field. She still grabbed 16 rebounds.
Junize Calago had 15 points and 12 rebounds but committed 13 of the Blue Eagles’ 38 turnovers that resulted in 31 points for the Fighting Maroons.
Jhaz Joson, who erupted for 29 points on eight three-pointers in their first round win, was limited to just six points while also recording seven turnovers in her 27 minutes and 54 seconds on the floor.
Both teams will play on Wednesday at the same Pasay arena.
Ateneo will start the day against Adamson University at 9 a.m., while UP will face Far Eastern University at 1 p.m.
The Scores:
UP 71 – Ozar 17, Onoh 13, Pesquera 11, Bariquit 6, Sanchez 5, Tapawan 4, Domingo 4, Lozada 4, Maw 3, Jimenez 2, Sauz 2, Quinquinio 0, Vingno 0, Godez 0.
Ateneo 48 – Calago 15, Dela Rosa 9, Makanjoula 8, Joson 6, Gastador 4, Cancio 3, Villacruz 3, Solis 0, Angala 0, Eufemiano 0, Nieves 0, Malaga 0.
Quarterscores: 19-12, 34-24, 60-39, 71-48
