UNIVERSITY of the Philippines ended a two-game losing streak with a come-from-behind 66-62 victory over De La Salle University, closing the first round of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Fighting Maroons wrapped up the first round with a 3-4 record, just one game behind the Ateneo Blue Eagles, who currently hold fourth place at 4-3.
“I’m just really so happy we won in the last game of our first round. We lost two consecutive games before this so we badly needed this entering the second round. I’m really proud of the girls that we held on and fought back from a huge deficit,” said UP head coach Paul Ramos.
After a tightly contested first half, UP struggled in the third quarter, allowing La Salle to dominate with a 23-11 run. This left the Fighting Maroons trailing by 10 points, 46-56, heading into the final period.
However, UP found their rhythm just in time, heating up from beyond the arc.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
A midrange jumper from Kaye Pesquera and three clutch three-pointers from Achrissa Maw, Christie Bariquit, and Rizza Lozada propelled UP to a slim one-point lead, 61-60, with 3:38 remaining in the game.
Pesquera, who missed two crucial free throws earlier, redeemed herself by sinking two key shots from the charity stripe, pushing UP ahead by two points, 64-62, with 32.4 seconds left.
The Fighting Maroons sealed the win when Bariquit iced the game with two more free throws with just 9.1 seconds remaining, snapping their losing streak.
In the final two minutes, La Salle faltered, committing three critical turnovers, including two dribbling violations by Luisa San Juan and a travel by Micay Rodriguez.
“I think it was really just that the players were more clear with what they needed to do in any possession kasi it was evident in the last two games namin that we were lost with what to do with our offense,” Ramos bared, explaining the adjustments his squad made in the fourth frame.
Maw spearheaded UP’s comeback efforts with 18 points on 7-of-12 from the field to go along with eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Gilas Women guard Louna Ozar tallied a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds along with six assists and one steal.
Despite both players struggling from the field, Pesquera (3-of-12) and Bariquit (2-of-7) chipped in 11 points each in the Fighting Maroons’ third win of the season.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
San Juan ended the game with 23 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Paraiso contributed 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists in the loss.
Lee Sario was limited on offense with seven points on a 20-percent shooting clip, but still contributed 11 rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Similarly, Patricia Mendoza only scored four points but contributed 11 rebounds and three blocks.
With the loss, La Salle finished the first round with a 1-6 record, tied for last place with FEU and UE in the eight-team league.
The Scores:
UP (66) – Maw 18, Ozar 13, Pesquera 11, Bariquit 11, Tapawan 8, Lozada 5, Mendoza 0, Jimenez 0, Barba 0, Sauz 0, Solitario 0, Nolasco 0, Quinquinio 0, Vingno 0.
DLSU (62) – San Juan 23, Paraiso 13, Sario 7, Dalisay 5, Camba 5, Mendoza 4, Sunga 3, Barcierto 2, Santos 0, Rodriguez 0, Dela Paz 0.
Quarterscores: 17-15, 35-33, 46-56, 66-62
