WITH THE team’s defense unable to contain the Adamson shooters, and their rebounding woes haunting them, the Ateneo Lady Eagles suffered a 60-80 beating from the Lady Falcons at the Far Eastern University Gym on August 2.
The Lady Eagles managed to keep pace with the taller Lady Falcons during the first half, even tasting the lead, 27-29 at the 5:39 mark of the second quarter, after a three-point shot by sophomore Denise Tiu. However, this proved to be momentary as Adamson scored on treys of their own to end the half, 37-45.
Adamson’s sweet shooting from beyond the arc continued in the second half with Lady Falcons Analyn Almasan and Anna Buendia leading the way. The Katipunan-based squad still kept within striking distance at the end of the third, 55-65, but it was in the final quarter that Adamson’s offensive onslaught broke the game wide open to finish with a twenty-point victory.
“It was the same as [what happened] against FEU. We were out-rebounded,” said Head Coach Haydee Ong as she pointed out Adamson’s 28-10 advantage in offensive rebounds, and 52–28 edge in total rebounds after the game.
She added that defensively, the team wasn’t able to contain the Lady Falcons’ tall players as they allowed Almasan and Gretchie Roque to score 29 and 13 points respectively. Buendia and guard Katherine Sandel also chipped in 20 and 11 points apiece.
In contrast, only veteran forward Sarah Mercado scored in double digits for the Lady Eagles with 17 points. Tiu and Captain Treena Limgenco, meanwhile, added nine points each.
Tiu said, “We just all have to step up. It can’t just be one player or two players stepping up. It has to be that everyone plays a good game.”
For Ateneo’s next game against the University of Sto. Tomas, Coach Haydee said, “They don’t have bigger girls like FEU and Adamson so hopefully, we can control the boards and step up our transition offense because that is our strength–in running.”
The Lady Eagles are currently at 2-3 and will try to bounce back against the UST Tigresses on August 5, Wednesday, 2:15pm at the FEU Gym.
