THE ATENEO Blue Eagles (5-3) claimed their fourth consecutive win in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Women’s Basketball Tournament after defeating the Adamson University Lady Falcons (2-6), 76-72. The game was held earlier today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Rookie Kacey Dela Rosa did not miss a beat in her first game back for Ateneo, immediately putting up 23 points, 23 rebounds, and two blocks in the win. Veteran guard Sandra Villacruz posted a career-high of 21 points to lead her team as well.
With Dela Rosa and Sarah Makanjuola deployed on the starting five together, the Blue and White wasted no time in building a lead early in the first quarter. The frontcourt duo dominated the paint and put up the first 10 points of the contest, 10-0. The opening quarter ended with the Katipunan-based squad leading by eight, 17-9.
[First Quarter]
— Ethan M. Encarnacion (@Ethan_TheGUIDON) October 29, 2022
Makanjuola gets fouled on the way to the basket. She makes both free throws.
Ateneo 10 AdU 0#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/6U8PG056du
Both the Blue Eagles and Lady Falcons ramped up the scoring in the following frame as they traded baskets. However, the fast-paced scoring played in Ateneo’s favor as they were able to sustain a 12-point lead heading into halftime, 39-27.
[Halftime]
— Ethan M. Encarnacion (@Ethan_TheGUIDON) October 29, 2022
Calm and collected Ateneo offensive sets finds them up by 12 at the end of the first half.
Ateneo – 39
Adamson – 27@TheGUIDONSports #UAAPBasketball
Despite getting outscored in the third frame, 22-17, the Blue and White safeguarded a seven-point lead heading into the final quarter of regulation, 56-49. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Lady Falcons rallied for a 10-4 run—cutting the Ateneo lead to just one, 60-59.
However, the girls in Blue and White remained unfazed. Villacruz was at the forefront of Ateneo’s efforts in closing out the game, as she put up 11 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter alone. Her impressive fourth quarter display included an important drive to the basket that gave the Blue Eagles a four-point cushion, 74-70.
Even though Adamson’s Rose Ann Dampios was able to swiftly reply on the other end, Blue Eagle Team Captain Jhazmin Joson hit two clutch free throws to ice the game, 76-72.
[Fourth Quarter]
— Ethan M. Encarnacion (@Ethan_TheGUIDON) October 29, 2022
Villacruz scores in the post! Dampios replies with a basket of her own.
Ateneo 74 AdU 72#UAAPBasketball
Center Victoria Adeshina paced the Lady Falcons with 27 points, 14 rebounds, and five steals in Adamson’s sixth loss. Dampios followed suit by posting 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, and seven steals.
The Blue Eagles will hunt for their fifth consecutive win as they come up against the undefeated National University Lady Bulldogs (7-0) on Wednesday, November 2 at 3:00 PM at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila City.
Box Scores:
Ateneo (76): Dela Rosa – 23, Villacruz – 21 , Calago – 9, Joson – 8 , Eufemiano – 5, Makanjuola – 4, Miranda – 4, Nieves – 2
AdU (72): Adeshina – 27, Dampios – 17, Agojo – 10, Flor – 8, Padilla – 6, Dela Cruz – 2, Etang – 2
Quarter Scores:
Ateneo-AdU: 17-9, 39-27, 56-49, 76-72
