AFTER TRAILING for almost the entire game, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws snatched the victory from the palms of the Ateneo Lady Eagles, 71-73, as the Blue and White open round two of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Women’s Basketball Tournament with a heartbreaking loss on Wednesday, October 17, at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.
Jollina Go knocked down five triples from downtown in her 21-point outburst to go along with three rebounds for the Lady Eagles. Katrina Guytingco was all over the floor for Ateneo as she filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals while Jhazmin Joson chipped in 13 points, two assists, and four steals.
The Lady Tamaraws’ towering center, Claire Castro, earned herself a double-double, posting 21 points and 10 rebounds and an additional four blocks. Valerie Mamaril and Fatima Quiapo each contributed 14 markers, seven rebounds, and four assists, with the latter adding a steal to her name for the Morayta-based side.
Both teams came out of the dugout firing from all cylinders, answering the opposing team’s baskets with their own. Shortly after, the stifling full-court defense of Ateneo started to take effect as they forced the Lady Tamaraws to commit several turnovers as Ateneo pulled ahead, 18-8. FEU got a mini-run of their own courtesy of back-to-back three pointers to end the opening period down only by six, 22-16.
[First Quarter]
Taguiam drills the mid range jumper to start off the game! Joson answers with a pull up as well from midrange.
Ateneo 2 FEU 2#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/A6dbvLJUTt
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
[First Quarter]
Baseline inbound play finds Newsome underneath the hoop and she is fouled. 0/2 for her from the stripe but Guytingco gets the miss and she scores!
Ateneo 9 FEU 8#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/eWhdHu1by6
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
Guytingco picked up from where she left of in the first quarter, scoring seven of Ateneo’s 11-0 run as the Katipunan-based side built their largest lead of the game, 33-16. It was a similar story to the opening quarter, as the Green and Yellow were able to creep back into the game behind Kathleen Vidal’s contribution off the bench as the Lady Eagles’ lead was cut down to eight heading into the break, 40-32.
[Second Quarter]
The Eagles turn the ball over and the Tamaraws capitalize on the break.
Ateneo 37 FEU 26#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/hIYtFlrPZL
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
[Second Quarter]
The Eagles turn the ball over and the Tamaraws capitalize on the break.
Ateneo 37 FEU 26#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/hIYtFlrPZL
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
The Lady Tamaraws showed a lot of intensity and will to start the second half and they were rewarded well as they managed to cut Ateneo’s lead to four, 45-41, following consecutive and-ones from Quiapo. However, moments later, Go’s back-to-back baskets from beyond the arc restored Ateneo’s double-digit advantage to end the third frame, 62-50.
[Third Quarter]
Yet again a snipe from beyond the arc for Go! She is feeling it from downtown!
Ateneo 56 FEU 43#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/0X5KJr26iH
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
[Third Quarter]
Yet again a snipe from beyond the arc for Go! She is feeling it from downtown!
Ateneo 56 FEU 43#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/0X5KJr26iH
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
FEU had a different mindset for the fourth quarter as they repeatedly pounded the ball inside, dishing it to Castro multiple times down low. She repaid the team’s faith as the Tamaraws got to within touching distance, 67-63. The Lady Eagles would put up points on the board afterwards but FEU always had an answer on the other end.
[Fourth Quarter]
Castro gets the lob and she is able to put it in the basket.
Ateneo 67 FEU 61#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/9UF3Qj11aS
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
Joson’s long two tied the game at 71-71 with 12 seconds remaining, forcing an FEU timeout. The timeout was all the Lady Tamaraws needed as an intelligently drawn up sideline inbound play caught the Lady Eagle defense off-guard, as FEU escaped with the win, 71-73.
[Fourth Quarter]
FEU gets the quick sideline inbound play to work and they snatch the win.
Ateneo 71 FEU 73#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/kG9JHzfBRt
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 17, 2018
Despite being outscored 9-23 in the final quarter, there were definite improvements to the Lady Eagles’ game, particularly in the turnover department. Go noted that they focused on it heading into the second round. “We worked on [breaking the half-court press] before the start of the second round because we noticed that most of our turnovers came from [the opponent’s pressure defense],” she mentioned.
Guytingco also noted some changes in the team’s execution on both ends of the floor. “We changed up our game plan and our coaches wanted to play zone. [In] that way, they wouldn’t be able to drive as easily and it would put us in a better position for rebounding,” she said. “Our offensive game stayed the same. We were just really able to execute today.”
The Ateneo Lady Eagles will look to improve on their 2-6 standing on Sunday, October 21, as they go head-to-head with the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons, 8:00 AM, at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Quarter Scores:
Ateneo-FEU: 22-16, 40-32, 62-50, 71-73
Box Scores:
Ateneo (71): Go 21, Guytingco 18, Joson 13, Villamor 6, Buendia 4, Newsome 3, Cancio 2, Nimes 2, Chu 2
FEU (73): Castro 21, Mamaril 14, Quiapo 14, Taguiam 9, Vidal 8, Bahuyan 4, Adriano 3, Antiola 0, Bastatas 0, Payadon 0
