By: Joaquin Cortez
After two years, University of the East’s search for a win is finally over.
The Lady Warriors snapped their 31-game losing streak, holding off a late fourth-quarter rally by the De La Salle University Lady Archers to escape with a 68-65 victory and open the second round on a winning note in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The breakthrough marked UE’s first win since Sept. 22, 2024, when the Lady Warriors also defeated La Salle by 18 points during Season 87 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
With Wednesday’s victory, UE improved to 1-7 under head coach Ian Valdez, matching La Salle’s record.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“I am very happy lang sa nilaro ng team today. ‘Di ko ma-express, kumbaga first time ko rin manalo dito sa UAAP so very happy. ‘Di ko ma-explain ‘yung nararamdaman ko ngayon,” the second-year head coach Valdez said. “All the sacrifices for the past two years … na ‘di pa kami ulit nanalo, parang nagbunga lahat ng sacrifices namin na tinuturo ko sa mga players ko.”
Both teams struggled to establish a comfortable lead in the third quarter before Sy Oñate’s floater gave UE an eight-point cushion midway through the period, 45-38. La Salle gradually chipped away at the deficit, but Roshelle Lumibao drained a triple just before the buzzer to preserve the Lady Warriors’ five-point advantage, 48-43.
UE struggled to find its footing in the final period as La Salle’s defense sparked a 9-2 run, capped by Bukky Ojo’s free throw that trimmed the deficit to three, 55-52.
However, the Lady Warriors quickly regained their momentum as Rachel Lacayanga knocked down a triple before Oñate converted a layup to extend UE’s lead to seven, 60-53, with just over three minutes remaining.
La Salle refused to go down without a fight, mounting an 11-3 run highlighted by baskets from Go, Zyla Lubrico, and Ojo to pull within one, 64-63, with just over a minute left.
Aliyah Ronquilo answered on the ensuing possession, burying a timely triple to restore UE’s four-point cushion, 67-63, with 1:26 remaining.
Oñate then converted both free throws to keep the Lady Warriors in control, while Steph Villapando and Kitkat Tenebro missed crucial opportunities to bring La Salle closer in the closing stretch.
Although Lira Ramos missed both free throws that could have further widened UE’s lead, the Lady Warriors held on to end their two-year winless drought.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“Pagkatapos ng game, tinawag ko po ‘yung mga teammates ko at sabi ko, ‘Hindi lang ‘to isa. Hindi lang ‘to yung unang makukuha nating panalo. Kailangan nating sundan ‘to,” said Lacayanga, who was part of the UE squad that secured its previous victory against La Salle two years ago.
“Alam naman po namin na kaya namin pero minsan lang talaga sa frustration, kapag hindi na kami nakakabawi, doon na po lumalabas weakness namin,” she added.
Oñate paced the Lady Warriors with 25 points, two rebounds, and one steal, while Lacayanga posted a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, alongside two assists.
Meanwhile, Ojo led the Lady Archers with a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds. Go also recorded a double-double, finishing with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists.
Both teams will return to action at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
La Salle will look to bounce back against the University of the Philippines on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 8:00 a.m., while UE’s next assignment will be against defending champion University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 8:00 a.m.
The Scores:
UE 68 – Oñate 25, Lacayanga 18, Buscar 5, Lumibao 5, Ronquillo 3, Vacalares 4, Gutierrez 3, Sajol 2, Guillim 2, Ramos 2, Dalguntas 0, Dublar 0, Cruz 0.
DLSU 65 – Ojo 24, Go 10, Lubrico 7, Araza 7, Villapando 6, S. Dizon 5, Tenebro 4, Bacierto 1, Dueñas 1, Sunga 0, Evangelio 0, A. Dizon 0.
Quarterscores: 13-20, 30-32, 48-43, 68-65.
