The University of the East Lady Warriors finished the UAAP Season 79 Women’s Basketball Tournament first round on a high note, as they dispatched the Adamson University Lady Falcons 69-57.
“Siyempre magandang standing para sa amin pero ngayon second round mas dodoblehin namin ang trabaho namin. Iba ang second round, lahat yan magpupukpukan, lahat yan magtatrabaho. Mas doble trabaho namin,” commented UE mentor Aileen Lebornio.
Joyce Francisco led UE with 16 points, followed by Love Sto. Domingo with 15 points and 17 rebounds, today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
UE started better than Adamson, as the Lady Warriors led 37-29 at halftime.
It was a similar start for the Lady Warriors in the third quarter, as a Nicole Mendina trey gave UE a 44-31 cushion over Adamson.
Adamson, though, didn’t give up, and a 2-13 run capped off by Kaye Pingol brought the Lady Falcons back in the game at 46-43, as the third quarter eventually ended 51-47 in favor of UE.
Jo Razalo drove Adamson within just two points of UE at the start of the fourth quarter, but an 11-2 run finished off by Francisco gave the Lady Warriors the momentum to win the game at 60-49.
With roughly two minutes left, baskets from Mendina and Eunique Chan were all the Lady Warriors needed to seal the win. In the end, UE won 69-57 over Adamson.
For Lebornio the key to today’s win was simple. She shared, “Yung depensa talaga namin ang nagdala. Sabi ko sa kanila kailangan natin dumipensa para makapuntos tayo.”
There were two things that helped UE today: their three-point shooting and rebounds. The Lady Warriors shot 23.81 percent and got 55 rebounds compared to Adamson’s 9.09 percent and 37.
“Kasi nung after the game namin sa La Salle, nag-practice kami sa shooting namin tapos yung rebounding,” Lebornio explained.
This game was UE’s (5-2) last assignment for the first round. As for Adamson (2-4), they end the first round with a game against University of Santo Tomas on October 5, 8:00 AM, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
UE (69) – Francisco 16, Sto. Domingo 15, Ramos 10, Mendina 10, Chan 9, Tacula 4, Antonio 3, Gayacao 2, Requiron 0, Nama 0, Relova 0, Cortizano 0.
ADU (57) – Prado 11, Araja 9, Pingol 9, Camacho 7, Lacson 6, Alcoy 4, Aciro 4, Dampios 4, Razalo 3, Osano 0, Rosario 0.
Quarterscores: 22-11, 37-29, 51-47, 69-57.
