De La Salle University snapped a two-game losing streak with a thrilling 64-60 come-from-behind victory over Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
With the win, the Lady Archers kept their slim Final Four hopes alive, improving to a 3-8 record with three games remaining in the elimination round.
They are now tied with the Lady Tamaraws and the UP Fighting Maroons for fifth to seventh places, though they remain three games behind the fourth-running Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Ateneo will face FEU on Saturday, November 9, and a Blue Eagles win would effectively eliminate the Lady Tamaraws, Lady Archers, and Fighting Maroons from playoff contention.
In her first game since September 8, after suffering a bone bruise on her left knee, Betts Binaohan made a strong return. She finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Luisa San Juan, who set a record with 10 three-pointers in their first-round meeting against FEU, added 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
“Tinignan ko kung ano pwede ko gawin, so inaral ko yung game. Kung ano yung mga pwede kong gawin habang injured ako, binabasa ko yung tendencies ng teammates ko and weaknesses nila para pagbalik ko, alam ko kung ano yung strength nila and magamit namin ‘yon sa loob ng court,” Binaohan shared.
FEU led by two points at halftime, 32-30, and extended their advantage to nine, 55-46, heading into the fourth quarter, after a 19-9 run led by Yvette Villanueva, EJ Lopez, and MJ Manguiat.
However, La Salle responded with a dominant 13-2 run in the final period. It regained the lead at 62-60 after Bernice Paraiso split her free throws with less than a minute remaining.
Another free throw from Paraiso, along with a key defensive stop on Villanueva’s potential game-tying three-pointer, sealed the Lady Archers’ third win in 11 outings.
This victory also marked La Salle’s second triumph over FEU this season, following a dominant 89-65 win in their first-round matchup on September 25.
“I told the girls na every time we step on the floor, we want to compete. If we’re in the running or if we’re out of the running, we’re here and in front of our LaSallian community and we want to compete every time,” said La Salle head coach Cholo Villanueva.
“Every play, every minute, and every second on the floor, we just want to compete and win.”
Kyla Sunga nearly posted a double-double, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, five steals, and one block.
Patricia Mendoza contributed seven points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals, while Lee Sario added eight points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals.
La Salle will aim to build momentum and keep its Final Four aspirations alive when they face the University of the Philippines on Sunday, Nov. 10, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, the Lady Tamaraws’ playoff hopes took a blow as they dropped to a 3-8 record, now tied with the Lady Archers and UP for seventh place.
Manguiat led FEU with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Villanueva added 15 points, six rebounds, two blocks, and one steal.
Lopez finished with 14 points, five assists, three rebounds, and one steal.
Shane Salvani had a tough outing, going scoreless after missing all 14 of her field goal attempts.
Despite her shooting struggles, Salvani contributed eight rebounds, five assists, four steals, and one block.
The Scores:
DLSU (64) – Binaohan 15, San Juan 14, Sunga 11, Sario 8, Mendoza 7, Dalisay 7, Paraiso 2, Dela Paz 0, Camba 0, Barcierto 0, Santos 0, Delos Reyes 0.
FEU (60) – Manguiat 16, Villanueva 15, Lopez 14, Pasilang 5, Paras 4, Ong 4, Nagma 2, Salvani 0, Dela Torre 0.
Quarterscores: 16-10, 30-32, 46-55, 64-60.
