“Finally!”, exclaimed UP’s first year mentor Kenneth Raval.
The University of the Philippines Lady Maroons scored its biggest upset, stunning last season’s runners-up Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles, 42-40, to notch its first win in the UAAP Season 79 Women’s Basketball tournament, Wednesday morning at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Daphne Esplana led the Lady Maroons with 8 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
It was a tight affair all the way until the very end. UP led Ateneo 29-26 after the third quarter after a Patricia Pesquera basket. Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Lady Maroons clinched a 35-30 cushion over Ateneo.
Although a Jonette Uy De Ong trey brought the Lady Eagles within 35-36, a costly foul by Hazelle Yam gave the Lady Maroons two charities which were converted by Esplana to extend UP’s lead to 40-37 with less than a minute left in the game.
Ateneo was then able to level the scores at 40-0 courtesy of free throws from Uy De Ong and Yam. What sealed it in the end for UP was another costly foul, this time by Uy De Ong.
From an inbound play, Uy De Ong was adjudged to have fouled Jeanine Bautista. Bautista slotted home both freebies which gave UP a 42-40 lead above Ateneo.
The Lady Eagles had one last attempt to at least force overtime, but good defense by the Lady Maroons earned them a reprieve. After forty minutes, UP won 42-40 at Ateneo’s expense.
“Malaking advantage kasi yung 11 days break namin since UST. We really prepared well for Ateneo. We had more than one week so buti na lang nag-respond ang mga bata,” Raval shared..
What won the game for the Lady Maroons was their free throw execution. UP shot 85.71 percent from the line compared to Ateneo’s 60 percent.
Raval shared, “I’ve been telling them there should be an attack mentality for UP. Hangga’t hindi kami umaatake, walang mangyayari.”
UP (1-4) shall play against National University on October 1, 8:00 AM while ADMU (2-4) will face De La Salle University on October 2, 10:00 AM. Both games will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
UP (42) – Esplana 8, Pesquera 8, Bautista 8, Aliermo 6, Medina 3, Franco 3, Wong 2, Ordoveza 2, Rodas 2, Lapid 0, Cruz 0, Tan 0, Gatpatan 0.
ADMU (40) – Yam 10, Uy De Ong 10, Tomita 8, Guytingco 4, Go 3, Deacon 2, Newsome 2, Cancio 1, Villamor 0, Payac 0.
Quarterscores: 6-10, 20-22, 29-26,42-40.
