After missing out on last season’s Final Four and finishing at sixth place in the elimination round, the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles opened their UAAP Season 80 Women’s Basketball Tournament campaign with a 61-58 against the Adamson University Lady Falcons.
It may just be the first game but there was an exorcism of sorts for the Lady Eagles as they finally got one over the Lady Falcons who they failed to beat last year. Jollina Go led Ateneo today with 19 points today at the Blue Eagle Gym in Ateneo. Melissa Newsome produced 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Blue and White.
Ateneo mentor John Flores shared, “Typical first day. Everyone’s too eager, too intense, too aggressive. But in the end… we were able to hold (Adamson) back.”
The Lady Eagles enjoyed a fast start to the game with a 30-20 edge at halftime. That separation was widened to 33-20 early in the third quarter via Cara Buendia’s basket for Ateneo’s biggest lead of the game.
However, Adamson retaliated in spectacular fashion. An incredible 27-14 Lady Falcons run capped off by Kristeena Camacho’s three-point play gave the Lady Falcons a 44-47 lead to end the period.
Jonalyn Lacson then eluded the Lady Eagles defense to give the Lady Falcons their biggest lead at 44-49 early in the final period. Unwilling to allow the rot to continue, Go scored five unanswered points to level the game at 49-49.
Go’s actions gave Ateneo the momentum it needed. Hazelle Yam scored four straight points to kickstart an 8-0 run to hand the Lady Eagles a 57-52 separation from the Lady Falcons. Adamson persisted on breaking that five-point with Kristeena Camacho cutting the deficit to 59-56.
Nevertheless, Filipino-American recruit Jhazmin Joson’s drive sealed the victory with 2:47 left on the clock. With so much time left, the Lady Eagles defense did just enough to repel any possible comeback as they started their road to redemption with a 61-58 victory against the Lady Falcons.
Jamie Alcoy led the Lady Falcons with 17 points and she was followed by Camacho who made 13 markers. Rebounding was a big plus for Ateneo has it made 53 against Adamson’s 35.
“That’s something we really appreciate because last year (Adamson) out-rebounded us by 71 to 36. We didn’t want that to happen again,” concluded Flores.
Ateneo’s (1-0) next assignment shall be against University of the Philippines on September 13, 10:00 AM in the Smart Araneta Coliseum. As for Adamson (0-1), they play University of Santo Tomas on September 16, 10:00 AM in Araneta.
The Scores:
ADMU 61 – Go 19, Newsome 10, Yam 8, Joson 8 Uy De Ong 5, Guytingco 3, Deacon 2, Cancio 2, Buendia 2, Villamor 2.
AdU 58 – Alcoy 17, Camacho 13, Lacson 9, Prado 8, Araja 3, Razalo 3, Rosario 2, Villanueva 1, Cabug 0, Cacho 0.
Quarterscores: 18-11, 30-20, 44-47, 61-58.
