DESPITE JAY Nimes’s stellar offensive performance, the Ateneo Lady Eagles suffered their third loss in four games, bowing to the Philippine Army Lady Troopers, 67-57, in the PCABL 7th Dickies Women’s Invitational Tournament on Saturday, July 7, at the Philippine Buddhacare Academy Gym in Quezon City.
Nimes led Ateneo’s offense, scoring 19 points on ⅝ shooting from behind the arc. Cara Buendia also posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Alyssa Villamor chipped in seven points and seven boards.
Jhanine Pontejos played an all-around game for the Lady Troopers, recording 18 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Banjo Soriano added nine markers while Love Sto. Domingo, Mat Gadian, and Chack Cabinbin all contributed eight points apiece.
Ateneo hit a barrage of triples to start the game, scoring their first 12 points from behind the 3-point line as they blitzed to a 12-2 lead. The Lady Troopers fought back in the middle of the quarter with a 6-2 run which forced Ateneo to call a timeout. The first period ended with Ateneo on top, 16-14, courtesy of a great defensive display from the Blue and White.
Boom Moslares opened Ateneo’s second quarter with a strong drive to the basket as she converted a tough layup over the outstretched arms of Sto. Domingo. That play ignited an 8-3 run that gave Ateneo a 24-17 advantage in the early stages of the period. However, Army answered right back in the latter half of the second quarter with a run of their own which trimmed Ateneo’s lead to only two points, 33-31, heading into the break.
[Second Quarter]
Moslares hits a tough layup and gives Ateneo their first basket of the quarter!
Ateneo 18 Army 14#PCABL2018 pic.twitter.com/hXhrshtKaX
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) July 7, 2018
[Second Quarter]
Buendia converts an easy two points from a beautifully executed play!
Ateneo 26 Army 19#PCABL2018 pic.twitter.com/K0q9wvLsj8
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) July 7, 2018
In the third frame, however, the Lady Eagles sudden offensive woes showed up as they failed to sustain their 41% shooting. The Lady Troopers took advantage of Ateneo’s struggles in the quarter as they uncorked a 17-2 run to take a commanding 13-point lead by the six minute mark. The Katipunan-based side was eventually outscored 8-21 in the quarter which left them with work to do as they faced a 41-52 deficit heading into the fourth quarter.
[Third Quarter]
Villamor sinks in an open two from the wing.
Ateneo 41 Army 50#PCABL2018 pic.twitter.com/GqHKFMZURM
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) July 7, 2018
Both teams traded baskets in the early stages of the fourth quarter as Army kept the Lady Eagles at arm’s length. After Nicole Cancio fouled out from the match, Nimes caught fire as she led her team to an 8-2 run which put Ateneo back in the game, 57-60, forcing an Army timeout. Ateneo’s gas tank appeared to run out as the team was unable to score after the timeout which allowed the Lady Troopers to secure the game, 57-67.
[Fourth Quarter]
Nimes sinks a three in the corner and cuts down Army’s lead to just six points!
Ateneo 52 Army 58#PCABL2018 pic.twitter.com/stwPy4NdXD
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) July 7, 2018
Buendia acknowledged the team’s shortcomings in the team’s third defeat. “[They’re] a veteran team [while] we have a lot of new players, so we were out hustled,” she admitted. “We slacked off when we were supposed to keep running, and we had problems in our communication.”
Nevertheless, Buendia was quick to praise her team’s offensive execution in the first quarter. “We showed some spurts of good communication, and we managed to run some of our plays completely,” she said.
The loss hands the team a 1-3 record in the tourney. They have a chance to bounce back against the UP Lady Maroons in a Battle of Katipunan on Sunday, July 8, 9:30 am, at the same venue.
Quarter Scores:
Ateneo-Army: 16-14, 33-31, 41-52, 57-67
Box Score:
Ateneo (57): Nimes – 19, Buendia – 10, Villamor – 7, Go – 6, Newsome – 5, Joson – 4, Moslares – 4, Cancio – 2, Payac – 0, Miranda – 0
Army (67): Pontejos – 18, Soriano – 9, Sto. Domingo – 8, Gadian – 8, Cabinbin – 8, Flormata – 5, Garcia – 5, Borja – 4, Roque – 2, Comeso – 0, Bombeo – 0, Lavalle – 0
