ABUSED AND unable to match-up physically, the Lady Eagles took an 82-43 beating, only doing enough to stop their opponents from doubling their score on July 29, at the Fil-Oil Arena. By half-time Adamson’s quick hands and full court press enabled them to relax, sitting comfortably with 26-point lead.
The Lady Falcons, a perennial powerhouse in the UAAP, did not take things lightly on the Lady Eagles. While Ateneo scored the game’s first two baskets through Sarah Mercado’s lay-up and Valerie Chua’s inside shot, the game went downhill from there.
Adamson’s Anna Buendia found her groove, connecting on jump shots and a variety of inside moves. Soon the Lady Eagles were stuck in a scoring drought, unable to find answers for Adamson’s baskets. The first quarter ended at 17-10.
Analyn Almazan, Adamson’s tallest, shifted game-play as she turned to her length and physical advantage, banking inside shots to a ten point second quarter performance. Adamson waxed hot during the second canto as they abused Ateneo’s wilting defense.
Almazan found outlets in Katherine Sandel and Sthallen Catalan, who hit treys even with the Ateneo defense on their faces. Only Mercado’s free throws and a Mariana Lopa trey kept Ateneo gasping for life, as the Lady Eagles found themselves in a deep 44-18 hole.
Confusion and pressure hounded the Lady Eagles for most of the third quarter. The team grew frustrated offensively as both Ateneo’s bigs, Denise Tiu and Chua, could not sink any inside jumpers. Adamson’s midcourt defense was relentless, ganging up on Ateneo’s ball handlers, leaving no room for Ateneo’s offense to slip past midcourt.
Lady Eagles coach Cris Quimpo subbed his guards in and out in hopes of finding the right mix, but the team could not find any rhythm on offense. Lopa, Tiu, and Mercado had a combined 17 turnovers.
In the third quarter, Fria Bernardo took over for the Lady Falcons, who kept running their press effectively. Bernardo scored off jumpers and nifty plays while Adamson’s lefty shooters made sure there weren’t any chances that the Lady Eagles would catch up. Adamson finished with a 25% clip, making eight out of 32 compared to the Lady Eagles’ four treys at 19%. The third ended at 66-29.
Adamson played a lofty game in the fourth, relaxing its defense and playing its reserves. Lady Falcon reserve center Snow Penaranda found herself playing the entire fourth as the Ateneo frontline looked tired from matching up with Almazan.
Coach Quimpo allowed his rookies to play out the remaining minutes of the fourth as the Eagle team succumbed to an 82-43 loss. The Lady Eagles allowed most of their bench to play out the remaining minutes as Angelina Morales, Bianca Belarmino, Sara Bo-ot, Veronica Limcaoco, and Allysa Dogong all clocking-in.
Sarah Mercado led all Ateneo scorers with 12 points and eight rebounds on 27.3% shooting. Mariana Lopa came in next, sinking three of her four three-point attempts en route to a nine-point game.
The Lady Eagles next play the UST Lady Tigers on August 1 (Sunday), at the Philsports Arena.
Author’s Notes:
Adamson’s star center Analyn Almazan shot a 100% from the field, scoring 17 points and hauling in 10 rebounds. Adamson heavily outrebounded Ateneo, 61-34, as the Adamson frontline of Almazan, Penaranda, Buendia, and Gretchie Roque proved too physical and too long for Tiu, Chua, and Javier, the three bigs Ateneo usually relies on. Adamson scored 48 points in the paint, compared to Ateneo’s 14.
QUARTER SCORING: 10-17, 18-44, 29-66, 43-82
