THE ATENEO Lady Eagles were overwhelmed by the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons, 54-72, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday, October 6 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Katrina Guytingco had her best game of the season as she carried the Lady Eagles’ scoring with 16 points on a 5/9 shooting clip to go along with five rebounds and two assists. Jhazmin Joson and Jollina Go both carried the offensive load, scoring ten points apiece. Zoe Chu narrowly missed out on a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
Lady Falcon Star Nathalie Prado tormented the Ateneo defense all game as she racked up 25 points on 10/16 shooting from the field to go with eight rebounds and six steals. Meanwhile, Jo Razalo had a double-double performance to remember with 16 points and 13 rebounds while Kristeena Camacho and Jamie Alcoy chipped in nine and eight points, respectively.
The Lady Falcons set the tone early in the game as they showed a lot of intent when crashing the offensive glass. Camacho’s string of highlights on offense, including assists and a three-point basket, propelled the Lady Falcons to a 6-21 lead over their Katipunan-based counterparts. Shortly after, it was Prado who got her groove, converting an and-one play to give the Lady Falcons a 16-point lead to close the quarter, 9-25.
[First Quarter]
Multiple offensive rebounds for Adamson finally gets them on the board with a jumpshot from Alcoy
Ateneo 0 AdU 2#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/nN3XdSR7Pp
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018
[First Quarter]
Camacho drops it off to Rasalo inside!
Ateneo 6 AdU 21#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/zgRnmVNItC
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018
The Lady Falcons brought their momentum yet again to start the second frame as they continued their offensive onslaught behind an 11-0 run which was ended by Chu’s first triple of the season. While both teams traded baskets and racked up points on the board, AdU ultimately went into the dugout ahead by 24 points at 22-46, on the back of their aggressiveness on the offensive boards and Ateneo’s unforced turnovers.
[Second Quarter]
Second chance basket for Adamson as the Eagles fail to track their assigned counterparts.
Ateneo 10 AdU 31#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/y75h3dL32L
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018
[Second Quarter]
Counted and a foul for Adamson! The Eagles’ help defense was late on the rotation. Free throw is good. Timeout Ateneo with 6:14 left.
Ateneo 10 AdU 34#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/QFfnli8SYo
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018
[Second Quarter]
Chu sinks her first triple of the season! Alcoy nails a midrange jumper to answer.
Ateneo 13 AdU 36#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/LLSZRhDiHY
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018
After the halftime break, the Lady Eagles came out fresh and full of energy as they attempted to trim AdU’s lead. This time, Guytingco stepped up for the Blue and White, knocking down a three-pointer that was later paired with a basket and a foul for a quick 5-0 run in favor of the Lady Eagles. Afterwards, everyone on the floor for Ateneo showed up both offensively and defensively as they trimmed Adamson’s lead and held them to only nine points in the third period, 39-59.
[Third Quarter]
Guytingco gets the three to go!
Ateneo 25 AdU 52#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/BxuelrzAsF
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018
[Third Quarter]
Guytingco finds Joson for three!
Ateneo 30 AdU 54#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/yQnsiWG5fd
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018
The Katipunan-based side carried their excellent display on offense to the fourth quarter as they looked for an opening that would get them back in the game. However, a few mishaps on defense allowed the Lady Falcons to maintain the distance between the two teams. The Ermita-based side would eventually seal their third win of the campaign while the Lady Eagles extend their losing skid to four losses, 54-72.
[Fourth Quarter]
Adamson breaks away from the Ateneo press to get an open basket inside!
Ateneo 48 AdU 67#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/jr83uuFYoU
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018
[Fourth Quarter]
The Eagles are ball-watching and they are punished with the second chance point!
Ateneo 51 AdU 69#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/OxuQaa0d0p
— Nielbert A. Dy (@Bert_TheGUIDON) October 6, 2018
The Lady Eagles’ standout performer in Guytingco commented on the difference in how her team played in both halves. “We were rushing too much and [we were] not working together as a team [in the first half],” she said. “[But in the second half] we changed up our game plan to play full court man-to-man defense. We played better as a team and our defense improved slightly. We were more aggressive,” she said.
The Ateneo Lady Eagles (2-4) will hope to finally end their victory drought at 8:00 AM, Wednesday, October 6, when they take on the De La Salle University Lady Archers (4-2) at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, Pasay City.
Quarter Scores:
Ateneo-Adu: 9-25, 22-46, 39-59, 54-72
Box Score:
Ateneo (54): Guytingco – 16, Joson – 10, Go – 10, Chu – 9, Newsome – 3, Buendia – 2, Nimes – 2, Cancio – 2, Villamor – 0, Gino-Gino – 0, Miranda – 0, Moslares – 0, De Dios – 0
AdU (72):Prado – 25, Razalo -16, Camacho – 9, Alcoy – 8, Aciro – 5, Bilbao – 4, Cacho – 3, Osana – 2, Araja – 0, Rosario – 0, Cabug – 0, Tandaan – 0
