IT took a 'perfect performance' by La Salle to end the historic UAAP win streak of the NU Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
"We needed to play perfectly against [NU]. We needed perfect players, a perfect rotation to beat a perfect team. So, we needed this," said La Salle coach Cholo Villanueva after their 61-57 overtime victory over the Lady Archers.
"To beat a perfect team, you need to play a perfect game, which is what we did this game and first time na nag-birthday gift sa akin itong mga to eh," he added.
[READ: La Salle ends NU Lady Bulldogs' record streak at 108 games]
"Birthday ko bukas eh. So, special day, special win, special team, and we want more."
Villanueva trimmed his rotation to just eight players and those players collectively smothered the six-time defending champs, holding them to just 24-of-80 field goals, including a lowly 6-of-31 from downtown.
La Salle also stayed away from fouls, only letting the Lady Bulldogs attempt eight foul shots, making just three.
The shock win came as sweet revenge for La Salle senior Charmaine Torres, who reminisced the Lady Archers' close loss to NU in Game One of the UAAP Season 79 finals back in Dec. 2016, 77-74.
"Siguro yung last na masakit is yung 2016 na championship game. Actually, lahat nung quarters din na yun, sa amin eh," recalled Torres, who had 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the win.
"Then the last two minutes, bumigay lang din ulit," she continued.
Despite the victory, Villanueva is adamant the Lady Archers are still behind the league elite.
"For us, we're just a work in progress. Coming from not making the Final Four for the past few years, and then eventually having our first achievement which is entering the Final Four," said Villanueva, a former La Salle guard.
"Now we're in the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four, which is what we want and then it's parang, it's an added bonus that we stopped a streak," said the coach.
"We're happy for the first achievement, we're especially happy for this, another achievement, but again, we're not yet done, we want to win all the way."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
