THE ATENEO Lady Eagles defeated the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons, 47-44, on Tuesday, October 18 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.
Ateneo’s second straight victory brings the Lady Eagles’ record up to 4-6 in the standings in the elimination round of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Basketball tournament.
The Blue and White drew first blood in the battle of Katipunan, with Go and Cancio shooting a 4-0 run before Lady Maroon Ma. Patricia Pesquera completed a three-point play to decrease the Lady Eagles’ lead (4-3). Co-Lady Maroon Ma. Antonia Wong tie then ties the score at 6-all, but Alyssa Villamor regains the lead for Ateneo and the Lady Eagles make a 8-2 run with Hazelle Yam’s three-point play capping off the first quarter.
The Lady Eagles were able to outscore the Lady Maroons, 10-2, midway through the second period reach their biggest lead at 24-10. The Maroon side was able to rally back as Pesquera made two free throws to reduce the lead to single digits, 26-17. Ateneo was able to sustain the deficit, as they led at the half (28-19).
Although the second half opened with the Lady Eagles drawing fouls, Yam redeems the missed free throws for team with a triple that extended the score to 32-21. After going up, 34-21, with 5:59 left in the third quarter through a basket by Melissa Newsome, the Lady Maroons went on a 10-0 run to come within three (31-34). Center Tina Deacon was able to make a hook shot with less than a minute left as the blue side held a 36-31 lead heading into the last period.
Although Villamor was able to bury a three to start the fourth, Ateneo’s lead went down to one late in thequarter (41-41). Team Captain Deacon flung a pass to back up guard Villamor who splashed in a crucial triple with 30.5 seconds left from the right wing to put the game out of reach from the Maroon side (47-44).
Yam was Ateneo’s top scorer in the low-scoring contest with 10 points, followed by Villamo who tallied 9 points and 4 steals. Deacon notched a near double-double with 7 points and 9 rebounds.
Ma. Therese Medina scored a game-high 12 points along with 6 rebound for UP. Ma. Antonia Wong finished with 9 points and 12 rebounds, including 6 offensive boards.
After the game, Ateneo Head Coach John Flores praised his bench for rising to the occasion. “It was the second unit. Most of the elements of the second unit were the ones who saved the day for us.”
Next up for the Ateneo Lady Eagles are the Adamson Lady Falcons with the contest happening on Sunday, October 23, 2016 at 10:00am, in the Smart Araneta Colisuem.
Quarter Scores (Ateneo-UP): 14-8, 28-19, 36-31, 47-44
Box Score: Ateneo – Yam- 10, Villamor- 9, Cancio- 7, Deacon- 7, Go- 6, Uy De Ong- 4, Newsome- 4
UP – Media- 12, Wong- 9, Pesquera- 7, Esplana- 6, Aliermo- 6, Bautista- 4
