THE ATENEO Lady Eagles have found the road to repeating last year’s championship. At 2-5 though, they have a lot of ground to make up for to reach the next round in the 71st Season of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines.
UP 68, Ateneo 55
The University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons used height to their advantage in the second half to defeat the Lady Eagles, 68-55, at the Blue Eagle Gym on August 3.
The game began with a 7-1 scoring run by the Maroons as the Lady Eagles had a sluggish start. Treena Limgenco (IV BS CTM) buried a three at the buzzer as the Eagles trailed, 16-12, at the end of the first quarter.
The half ended with the Maroons holding on a five-point cushion, 36-31, as UP began to establish their post presence to counter Ateneo’s three-point shooting.
UP opened the third quarter smothering defense as Lady Maroons Sihaya Sadorra and Fatima Tolentino initiated the inside push as they grabbed a commanding 51-39 lead entering the final quarter.
“We got so tired and couldn’t defend with the same intensity that we had in the first half. That’s when height became a major factor,” said Limgenco whose 28-point performance fell short.
The Maroons’ inside play took its toll on the Lady Eagles, who were unable to run their offense, lapsing into a series of turnovers. Sadorra waxed hot while Limgenco failed to sustain her piercing 19-point first half and the Lady Eagles stumbled to their fifth loss of the season, 55-68.
Ateneo 57, NU 52
The Lady Eagles returned to form as they pulled off a squeaker against the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs, 57-52, last July 31 at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The Lady Eagles approached the game with focus and intensity as they started with a blistering attack and established a 13-0 lead in the first quarter, However, both teams came out sloppy in the second period, and it took a late surge by Ateneo to build a 10-point lead at the break, 29-19.
The second half featured a stunning comeback by the Lady Bulldogs as they outscored Ateneo 20-5 in the third quarter. NU toyed with the Lady Eagles’ defense, draining lay-ups and rainmakers alike.
As Team Captain Limgenco got into foul trouble, Head Coach Heidi Ong was forced to find production from the bench. Ronna Co (III AB IS) and Therese Estrada (I AB Psy) stepped up and made big plays down the stretch to help trim down the deficit. They scored seven points apiece.
Late in the final quarter, back-to-back baskets by Limgenco followed by a Sam Ong (I BS Psy) three gave the Lady Eagles a 52-48 lead. The rest of the battle was played on the foul line, where Ateneo prevailed.
Limgenco scored 16 points to lead the Lady Eagles in their second straight win. Both teams combined for 63 turnovers.
Ateneo 65, UE 55
The dry spell is over.
After suffering back-to-back losses for the past four games, the Lady Eagles got their first win of the season, outlasting the University of the East (UE) Amazons, 65-55, last July 27 at the Blue Eagle Gym.
In a clash of victory-hungry teams, the Lady Eagles’ defense proved invaluable enough. A menacing mix of blocks, steals, and hustle plays held UE’s first attempt on the basket only after a full 4:13 minutes off the buzzer. Ateneo held on to a 10-point lead until foul trouble cut it down to 15-13 by the end of the first quarter.
The same defensive scheme is mirrored onto the succeeding quarters, but with minimized errors and more team play: 32-17, 42-32, and 65-55.
Further down the stretch, sweet-shooting duo of Karen Columna (I AB IS) and Limgenco rained shots from inside and beyond the arc. The two accounted for 30 of the Lady Eagles’ 65 points, making them a formidable centerpiece in the Ateneo arsenal.
However, Team Captain Limgenco gives it up for her teammates. “I guess the intensity of the team and the communication made the difference. Defense gave us offense, and it got us through.”
Rookie Coach Heidi Ong is optimistic that this victory will spark the Lady Eagles to extend their feat. “Sustained defense won the game… if this [winning] continues, there’s still a possibility of us landing in the top four,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.
