In line with the ongoing University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Women’s Basketball Tournament, this series will dive into the details of the Ateneo Lady Eagles’ performance as they push for a Final Four spot.

Recap of the week (November 4 – November 13)

The Lady Eagles were coming off back-to-back wins when they took on league leaders National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs. It was a different story from the Blue and White’s previous two games as they were outmatched by the Lady Bulldogs’ length and size, especially in the paint, suffering a 52-76 defeat last November 4.

An atrocious offensive showing in the first-round encounter against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses, where they recorded their season-low of 38 points, Ateneo needed to step up their consistency on the offensive end when the two teams squared off in the second round. The Lady Eagles answered the call and had a decent 60-point output. However, a 31-point outburst from the Golden Tigresses’ Ana Tacatac was too much for the team to handle as they lost, 60-82, last November 7.  

The classic UAAP rivalry match between the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers and the Ateneo Lady Eagles took place last November 13. Aiming to recover from consecutive losses, the Blue and White needed to pull off a strong showing to bounce back. However, it was one of those nightmare games on offense as the team only scored a total of 39 points en route to a 39-57 defeat last November 13.

Ateneo-NU: 22-16, 40-32, 62-50, 71-73

Ateneo-UST: 21-8, 37-23, 52-34, 63-51

Ateneo-DLSU: 22-14, 42-29, 54-43, 69-63

Upcoming games

November 16, Friday, 11:00 AM vs Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons

1. Much needed offensive production from the bench

Squad depth is an important factor in determining who has the upper hand in a matchup. Fatigue will always come into play and having players off the bench who can produce points is a necessity for every team. Not only does this help a team pull away or stay even with its opponent, but it also gives the starting unit a much needed breather.

The lack of bench production against NU played a big part in Ateneo’s defeat. In particular, the Lady Eagles’ bench players did not have a good game as they combined for 11 points off the bench and only shot 3-of-17 (17.6%) from the field. As a result, the starting five for Ateneo had to play heavy minutes, with starting point guard Jhazmin Joson fielded for 30 minutes while both Jollina Go and Katrina Guytingco were on the floor for 26 minutes.

Against UST, however, the bench stepped up whenever they were checked in. Joanne Nimes had 10 points, nailing a pair of three-point baskets, and five rebounds to provide much needed firepower off the bench. Alyssa Villamor also contributed with five points, three rebounds, and three steals. Contrary to the game against NU, the bench doubled their field goal percentage for a combined 8/22 shooting clip (36.4%) from the field.

It was another solid outing for the Ateneo’s supporting cast against DLSU as they had 25 points in total. Nimes and Villamor combined for five triples while Cara Buendia chalked up eight points. The bench actually scored more than the starters of the team which earned them more minutes on the floor. They put up a 10/25 shooting clip and played a vital part in the Katipunan-based side’s huge third quarter run.

Another impressive showing from the bench will certainly put the team on a favorable spot when they face the Lady Falcons and a more consistent output from Ateneo’s bench  will be key moving forward.

2. Talent and skill are there, but improvements in consistency, composure, and rebounding are needed.

Throughout the team’s UAAP Season 81 campaign, we’ve been treated with highlight play after highlight play by the Lady Eagles. With a variety of amazing and crucial three-point baskets and excellent finishes around the rim, the Lady Eagles possess an offensive skill set that can match the other UAAP teams.

Comparing the Blue and White to the likes of the NU Lady Bulldogs, Ateneo has the ability to match the Blue and Gold in terms of half-court offensive sets. Just like in the second round encounter, NU had seven uncontested shots and the Lady Eagles were not that far behind with five. They shot well from beyond the arc, knocking down 7/27 (26%).

Although the system on offense is suiting well for the team, defensive lapses and rebounding were a pain in the neck for the Katipunan-based side as they allowed the Lady Bulldogs to shoot 34/76 from the field and gave up 61 rebounds (25 off) in their second round encounter.

Against UST in the second round, the team produced another solid display on offense, racking up six uncontested field goal attempts to the Golden Tigresses’ four. Again, the team had a decent time from distance, hitting 7/27 (26%). It was the same problem for Ateneo, however, as UST had total control of the rebounding department. The España-based side was able to secure 71 rebounds (36 off) compared to the Lady Eagles’ 35 (11 off).

While the Blue and White can certainly produce on offense, there are also times when they struggle to get anything to fall. For instance, their 39-point game against DLSU was the second time in the season where the Lady Eagles failed to reach the 40-point mark at the end of the game. The team was not able to reach a double-digit quarter output in the first, second, and fourth quarters, including a deflating 4-point account in the deciding period.

Speaking of the team’s lowest output this season, they had theirs when they faced the UST Golden Tigresses in the first round. Several missed shots was a regular sight in that game as the Lady Eagles tallied only 38 points. Despite the poor stat line, Ateneo actually ran offense well in that game, garnering 9 uncontested shots but they were only able to convert 4 of them. The three-ball was also a non-factor for them as they went 1/23 (4.35%) from deep.

As brilliant as Ateneo’s offensive system is at finding comfortable shots, the Lady Eagles enter into a slump on offense from time to time. They simply miss open shots and are forced to find other avenues to chalk up points. It certainly is something that the team needs to work on but it is exciting to see how the team can perform with more consistency.

3. Flashes of brilliance from rookies in their limited minutes

The Ateneo Lady Eagles’ rookies for UAAP Season 81 included sharpshooter Nimes, combo guard Angel Gino-Gino, swingman LJ Miranda, and the towering Audrey Quirante.

After sitting out two years due to residency, Nimes was only able to suit up for the Lady Eagles in this campaign, and she introduced herself to the UAAP as a player possessing a deadeye from three-point land. One of her memorable outings this season was in the first round when they took on the University of the East Lady Warriors. The team rained threes from all over the place in that game, hitting 18 from beyond the arc of which Nimes contributed 6 triples.  She was also a reliable spark off the bench for Ateneo in their previous two clashes in the UAAP, averaging 8 pts and 4.5 rebounds over the two game stretch.

Another rookie for the Lady Eagles is the left-handed Gino-Gino. She has shown the ability to sink jump shots, either from the perimeter or the three-point area in the opportunities she had. The freshman guard also has quick feet to defend the opposing ball handlers. Back in the first round encounter against Katipunan neighbors, the UP Lady Maroons, she did an amazing job of hounding UP’s Gene Amar in the closing stages of the game.

Adding to the squad’s left handers is the swingman Miranda. With the minutes she has been given, she has shown a nice touch around the rim with some floaters and short jumpers. She can certainly put the ball down as well without looking like she would lose her handles. Miranda also put her length and athleticism to good use on defense as she can guard anyone from the 1 to 3 spot. Her laterals and long arms will be a nightmare for any offensive player.

Lastly, the team was able to secure the services of the tall Audrey Quirante. She did not feature much for the Lady Eagles this season as a number of veteran bigs are ahead of her in the rotation. Her size and presence inside will surely be an asset for the Lady Eagles in the coming years.

Despite all rookies still a little raw, they can definitely show what they can deliver for the Blue and White given more time and preparation. As the season winds down, these rookies have had their chances to enter the floor and play for Ateneo. With many more eligible playing years, this may well be the start of something special for these players.

The Ateneo Lady Eagles have had an up-and-down campaign all season long. The Final Four is now out of reach but the Blue and White can definitely take a lot of positives after UAAP Season 81. As they go into a whole year of preparation again for next year’s campaign, learning and correcting mistakes they made this campaign will be a big factor moving forward.