A new season changed nothing in the women’s division, as back-to-back MVP Kacey Dela Rosa continued her dominant form, leading Ateneo de Manila University to a 2-0 start.
Dela Rosa put on a show in Ateneo’s 81-52 rout of the University of the East on Wednesday, delivering 29 points on 72.2-percent shooting from the field, along with nine rebounds, five steals, and four blocks.
But it was on Sunday, Sept. 28, that her performance proved truly pivotal. Dela Rosa scored 11 of the last 13 Blue Eagles’ points to help Ateneo outlast the Adamson Lady Falcons, 70-60.
Her 24 points on 88.9-percent shooting — coupled with 19 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks — powered Ateneo to a win that carried extra significance.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Adamson had swept Ateneo last season, including a victory in the stepladder semifinals that eliminated the Blue Eagles.
“Pinaghandaan talaga namin sila (Elaine) Etang, (Cheska) Apag kasi talagang gigil kami kasi last year 0-3 kami sa kanila. So ngayon inisip ko na sa amin na ‘yung panalo talaga,” said the Gilas Women center.
For her stellar performances that kept Ateneo unblemished from September 20 to 28, Dela Rosa was unanimously named this season’s first Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Women’s Basketball Player of the Week.
Dela Rosa’s numbers topped those of UP’s Shane Cunanan and Camille Nolasco, NU’s Tin Cayabyab and Ann Pingol, and UST’s Oma Onianwa for the honor, which is sponsored by Discovery Suites and Buffalo’s Wild Wings N’ Things.
