The UE Lady Warriors ended their 31-game losing streak with a 68-65 win over the La Salle Lady Archers in the UAAP Season 89 Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
UE took control in the third quarter, and Sy Oñate’s floater gave the Lady Warriors their biggest lead at 45-38. La Salle kept coming. The Lady Archers opened the fourth on a 9-2 run, and Bukky Ojo’s free throw cut the deficit to three, 52-55.
UE answered with a Rachel Lacayanga three and an Oñate layup to go back up 60-53 with just over three minutes left. La Salle then went on an 11-3 run behind Kyla Go, Zyla Lubrico, and Ojo to pull within one, 63-64. Aliyah Ronquillo answered with a three to make it 67-63 with 1:26 remaining. Steph Villapando and Kitkat Tenebro both missed chances to close the gap, and UE held on.
“I am very happy lang sa nilaro ng team today,” said UE head coach Ian Valdez. “‘Di ko ma-express, kumbaga first time ko rin manalo dito sa UAAP, so very happy.”
Oñate led the Lady Warriors with 25 points, while Lacayanga posted a double-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists.
For La Salle, Ojo finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Go added a double-double of 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists.
UST Stays Perfect With Rout of UP
In the next game, the UST Growling Tigresses stayed perfect with a 93-65 rout of the UP Fighting Maroons.
UST never trailed. The Growling Tigresses raced to a 25-9 lead after the first quarter, with Karylle Sierba and Oma Onianwa combining for 28 first-half points, and led 54-21 at halftime. Their lead reached as many as 35 points.
“Kudos to the girls. They really worked hard for this win,” said UST head coach Haydee Ong, adding that “we really shut down UP today.”
Onianwa led the Growling Tigresses with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. Brigette Santos and Sierba added 18 points each, while Barby Dajao chipped in 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block.
For UP, Louna Ozar finished with 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Kennan Ka had 15 points, Camille Nolasco added 12, and Achrissa Maw contributed 11.
NU Blows Out Ateneo
At noon, the NU Lady Bulldogs routed the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 84-60.
After a slow start, NU pulled away in the second quarter behind steady production from its bench and took a 46-27 lead into halftime. Ateneo fought back in the third, and Alyssa Rodriguez’s three cut the deficit to 12, 43-55, with about three minutes left in the period.
The Lady Bulldogs answered right away. With Kacey Dela Rosa on the bench, NU kept hitting from beyond the arc to push the lead to 74-52 midway through the fourth quarter and cruised to a 24-point win.
“We told them na itong second round, second chances,” said NU head coach DA Olan. “Very crucial na we start this second round with a really good game.”
Kristine Cayabyab led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Rookie Aubrey Lapasaran added 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Ann Pingol chipped in 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists.
For Ateneo, Dela Rosa posted a double-double of 25 points and 16 rebounds, along with 3 blocks and 2 steals. Kai Oani contributed 12 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
Adamson Holds on to Beat FEU
In the day’s final game, the Adamson Lady Falcons held off the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 79-75.
Adamson built a double-digit lead in the third quarter, but FEU kept chipping away in the fourth. Shane Salvani’s triple cut the deficit to one, 72-73, before Cheska Apag’s three and a Kemi Adeshina free throw pushed Adamson’s lead back to 77-74.
Elaine Patio brought FEU within one again, 76-77, with two minutes left, and both teams went cold from there. Victoria Pasilang missed a jumper with nine seconds left, and Trix Burgos sealed the win from the free-throw line.
“We fought through adversity again. ‘Yung injuries, partly in my rotation, we’re gonna be prone sa mga injuries,” said Adamson head coach Jed Colonia. “After that loss versus FEU, they took time to talk to each other.”
Adeshina led the Lady Falcons with 25 points and 7 rebounds, while Elaine Etang added 13 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
For FEU, Pasilang finished with 18 points, 5 steals, and 4 rebounds. Amyah Espanol had 16 points and 7 rebounds, Patio chipped in 12, and Maxene Dela Torre contributed 10.
NU will next face FEU on Saturday, October 31, at 10:00 a.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Later that day at 12:00 p.m., Adamson will take on Ateneo, while UP opens the day against UE at 8:00 a.m.
Meanwhile, UST will next face La Salle on Wednesday, November 4, at 8:00 a.m. at the same venue.
