NATIONAL University launched its title bid on a winning note, beating Ateneo, 70-60, in the PCABL 7th Dickies Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Buddhacare gym in Quezon City.
Showing their readiness to defend their UAAP title for the fourth straight year, the NU Bullpups started strong, wavered a bit before coming through with clutch plays midway through the payoff period to survive Ateneo’s fierce comeback.
Rhena Itesi scored 18 points for NU, which played minus head coach Pat Aquino who was handling then the Philippine 3x3 team in the FIBA World Cup in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Five other NU players contributed six points or more that underscored the team’s depth in the event presented by Dickies and supported by EuroMed, Multimotors Auto Parts, CW Home Depot, Choi Garden Restaurant and Blackwater.
Jhazmin Joson and Alysa Villamor paced the Lady Eagles with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Also impressive was Adamson which downed Army, 67-60, thanks to Nathalia Prado and Jamie Alcoy, who finished with 20 and 19 points, respectively.
Not to be outdone, Air Force rode on the 41-point explosion of veteran Cindy Resultay to beat University of the Philippines, 78-73.
Resultay was almost unstoppable, finishing with 9-of-11 shooting from the field aside from posting 17 boards and three assists.
Meantime, the game between Philippine Under-18 team and last year’s runner-up University of the East was cancelled last Wednesday due to foul weather.