DESPITE THEIR best efforts to pull off an upset against the undefeated National University (NU) Bulldogs, the Ateneo Blue Eagles lost 21-20 in the semi-finals of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 84 3×3 Women’s Basketball Tournament. The games were held at Millennial Resorts in Calatagan, Batangas earlier today.
Before clinching the fourth seed in the tournament, the Blue Eagles came into day two with a 2-2 record. Their first game of the day was also against NU, where Ateneo led early in the match courtesy of Jhazmin Joson’s outside shooting. Joson finished the first battle with NU having recorded six points on 3/10 shooting from downtown. However, NU picked up the pace in the latter half of the match and utilized their size advantage to win the game, 11-19.
In the last game of the eliminations, Ateneo faced the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, with the winning team guaranteed a top 2 spot in the tournament heading into the semi-finals. Ateneo was spearheaded by Jemina Miranda and Joson as both finished with three points apiece. However, the Blue Eagles received a taste of their own medicine as UST’s shooting propelled them to the win, 21-8. UST finished with a 6/10 shooting record from the arc while Ateneo was only able to make one out of its seven attempts.
Despite the losses to both NU and UST in the eliminations, the Blue Eagles managed to book the fourth spot in the Final Four—which meant a matchup with the Lady Bulldogs yet again. Pacing the Blue and White in the match were Joson and Miranda, who finished the game with 11 and six points, respectively. The duo’s hot shooting almost propelled Ateneo to the finals as they finished with a 6/11 clip from downtown.
NU was able to pick up the win courtesy of a game-winner from the towering big Angelica Surada, who bodied Miranda on the last play to win on a hook shot and remain undefeated heading into the finals.
Throughout the tournament, Ateneo’s outside shooting helped them stay in games, while NU capitalized on their size—evident in the Lady Bulldogs’ 19-13 rebounding advantage in the semis.
Following the results from the final day of the Women’s 3×3 tournament, the Blue Eagles conclude their season sitting fourth in the overall standings.
