THE ATENEO Lady Eagles ended their four-game losing streak in their defeat of the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons, 76-62, in the final game of the first round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday, September 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
With the win, Ateneo finished the first round with a 3-4 slate, which is tied for fifth place with the De La Salle Lady Archers and a game behind the fourth-placed Adamson Lady Falcons. Meanwhile, UP will enter the second round winless with a 0-7 record.
Kat Guytingco led the Lady Eagles’ second-half charge by scoring all of her 13 points after the break. Jhaz Joson also had a strong performance as she tallied 13 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists.
The Lady Maroons meanwhile, were led by Pat Pesquera’s 15 points and nine boards, but shot just 5/20 from the field. Jona Lebico also chipped in for UP, as she finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and three steals.
The game started out as a back and forth affair from both teams, with neither side leading by more than two possessions until Lady Eagle Boom Moslares’s buzzer-beater from near midcourt ended the first quarter. Ateneo rode the momentum from Moslares’s shot to build a double-digit lead in the second quarter, but UP fought back and cut the deficit to just three at halftime.
The third quarter was the difference in the game once more for the Lady Eagles, as they went on a 12-0 surge midway through the period led by Guytingco. The Blue and White did not look back in the fourth quarter, as they did not allow UP to cut the lead back down to single digits and ended the game up by 14.
Ateneo capitalized on the Lady Maroons’ mistakes by converting 20 turnovers into 20 points. The Lady Eagles also took and made more foul shots in the second half, shooting 10/15 from the line after the break compared to their abysmal 3/8 free throw shooting in the first half. While UP held a 22-8 edge on the offensive glass, they only had a 12-11 advantage on second-chance opportunities.
Guytingco’s outstanding play was crucial in the second half surge that allowed Ateneo to take control of the game. Head Coach Katrina Quimpo commended Guytingco for her performance despite not getting a lot of playing time in the first half.
“She sat out most of the first half, and that fueled her to do more in the second half. She came into the game with that power and energy which lifted the whole team up and we always rely on her to do that. It was good that when she had the minutes, she really gave it her best,” Quimpo said.
Apart from keeping the team within the hunt for a final four berth, the win was also a huge morale-boost for the team heading into the second half of the season.
“It’s a much-needed win. The losses have taken a toll on us emotionally. We expected a lot from [the] first round. We didn’t get what we expected. It’s good that we’re back on the winning track. Matagal kong di nafeel yung how it is to win and I think the players also needed this breather coming into the second round,” said Quimpo.
Quarter Scores:
Ateneo-UP: 25-16, 35-32, 57-47, 76-62
Box Score:
Ateneo (76): Guytingco – 13, Joson – 13, Chu – 12, Cancio – 9, Yam – 9, Newsome – 8, Villamor – 7, Moslares – 5, Aquisap – 0, De Dios – 0, Villacruz – 0, Nimes – 0, Payac – 0
UP (62): Pesquera – 15, Lebico – 10, Sanchez – 9, Rivera – 7, De Leon – 5, Gusilatar – 5, Gonzales – 4, Ordoveza – 4, Larrosa – 3, Hidalgo – 0, Lucman – 0
