TWO wins separate National University from the redemption it’s been craving for, as it earned an outright Finals spot in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs delivered another masterful performance with an 86-58 drubbing of Far Eastern University to complete a perfect 14-0 eliminations sweep on Saturday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan and solidify the stepladder semis format for this year’s chip.
Rookie Cielo Pagdulagan spearheaded the assault with 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists, as all 14 players scored at least one field goal for the girls from Jhocson.
Jill Talas had nine points, Aloha Betanio got eight points and five boards, and Angel Surada also tallied eight points, four boards, and two assists in the wire-to-wire win where National U started off with a blazing 29-10 opener.
“The goal is to have the opportunity to go back to the finals and with this win, we finally got it. But the work doesn’t stop there,” said coach Aris Dimaunahan, as this booked a 10th straight Finals trip for the Lady Bulldogs.
“It gave us the opportunity to be there sa stage na ginugusto namin, para matuloy namin yung chance to battle for a championship.”
Victoria Pasilang paced the Lady Tamaraws with 18 points and five rebounds as they ended their first season under coach Raiza Palmera-Dy with a 3-11 card.
UST's growling end to elims
Defending champion University of Santo Tomas also wrapped up its schedule on a three-game win streak with a dominant 70-52 rout of La Salle.
Tacky Tacatac set the tone for the Growling Tigresses with 14 points built on four triples, while Kent Pastrana chipped in 10 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals to cap their eliminations campaign at 12-2.
UST, locked in at No. 2, now lays in wait in the second rung of the stepladder for the winner between Adamson (3) and Ateneo (4)
Luisa San Juan topped the Lady Archers (4-10) with 15 points and five rebounds in the loss.
We'll do this all over again
No. 3 Adamson also snapped its two-game skid with a 58-52 victory vs. No. 4 Ateneo to end the elims.
Novie Ornopia powered the Lady Falcons to their ninth win with 10 points and five rebounds in a total team effort for the San Marcelino squad.
Elaine Etang scored produced nine points and eight boards, while Victoria Adeshina got eight points, five rebounds, and three steals for Adamson, as coach Ryan Monteclaro reached the semifinals in his second season at the helm.
MVP frontrunner Kaycee dela Rosa unloaded a 15-point, 19-rebound double-double in the loss, as the Lady Eagles finished with an 8-6 record.
The two teams will face off anew in the first rung of the stepladder semis.
UP fights to the finish
In the final game, Camille Nolasco starred for the University of the Philippines, guiding her side to a 65-48 conquest of University of the East.
The rookie out of Miriam College drained three treys for 14 points to go with four boards, as the Fighting Maroons finished fifth with their 5-9 slate.
Kaye Pesquera also chimed in 14 points, three rebounds, and two steals off the bench, while Louna Ozar got 13 points and four boards.
Jearzy Ganade paced the Lady Warriors (1-13) with 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
The Scores:
First Game:
NU 86 – Pagdulagan 11, Talas 9, Betanio 8, Surada 8, Alterado 7, Fabruada 7, Konateh 7, Pring 7, Pingol 6, Clarin 5, Sois 3, Villanueva 3, Ico 3, Canuto 2.
FEU 58 – Pasilang 18, Manguiat 15, Salvani 8, Nagma 6, Villanueva 5, Ong 4, Gavaran 2, Lopez 0, Paras 0, Dela Torre 0.
Quarters: 29-10, 44-30, 62-43, 86-58.
Second Game:
UST 70 - Tacatac 14, Pastrana 10, Santos 9, Danganan 9, Sierba 7, Maglupay 6, Relliquette 5, Ambos 4, Amatong 4, Bron 2, Soriano 0, Serrano 0, Pineda 0, Pescador 0.
LA SALLE 52 - San Juan 15, Sario 9, Binaohan 8, Sunga 7, Dela Paz 6, Mendoza 3, Santos 2, Paraiso 1, Dalisay 1, Bacierto 0, Camba 0.
Quarters: 20-3, 39-23, 57-38, 70-52.
Third Game:
ADAMSON 58 – Ornopia 10, Etang 9, Adeshina 8, Apag 6, Padilla 6, A. Alaba 5, E. Alaba 5, Manlimos 3, Mazo 2, Limbago 2, Agojo 2, Meniano 0, Bajo 0, Delos Santos 0, Cortez 0, Trabado 0.
ATENEO 52 – Dela Rosa 15, Calago 13, Makanjuola 11, Villacruz 6, Oani 3, Batongbakal 2, Eufemiano 2, Cruza 0, Cancio 0, Olivenza 0, Lopez 0, Angala 0, Aguirre 0.
Quarters: 19-13, 33-28, 47-39, 58-52.
Fourth Game:
UP 65 – Nolasco 14, Pesquera 14, Ozar 13, Maw 9, Tapawan 4, Solitario 3, Mendoza 2, Jimenez 2, Vingno 2, Sauz 1, Quinquinio 1, Lozada 0, Bariquit 0, Barba 0.
UE 48 – Ganade 17, Ronquillo 10, Lacayanga 6, Kone 5, Vacalares 4, Buscar 4, Lumibao 2, Dalguntas 0.
Quarters: 13-9, 34-20, 53-37, 65-48.
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