Following a two-year absence of the 5-on-5 Women’s Basketball Tournament in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team (AWBT) is finally back in action. This weekly series looks to analyze the state of the Ateneo Blue Eagles as they return to the country’s premier collegiate league.
THE ATENEO Women’s Basketball Team (AWBT) is in a bit of a bind after succumbing to consecutive losses in the second half of UAAP Season 85.
Thanks to veteran guard Sandra Villacruz’s efforts in the final quarter, the Blue and White’s second round opening match against the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons set the stage for their fourth consecutive victory, 76-72. Although this achievement was a refreshing sight for the Blue Eagles, it was abruptly interrupted by their 60-74 defeat versus the unrivaled National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs. Furthermore, in spite of the team’s outstanding last-minute offensive stops in their next bout, the girls sustained another tough loss to archrivals De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, 55-56.
As the Blue Eagles (5-5) look forward to regaining their momentum, they may have to work on their control and poise around the basket to secure a spot in the Final Four. They currently sit at fourth place in the standings, as of the time of writing.
1. The full potential of Jhazmin Joson
Ethan: TEAM CAPTAIN Jhazmin Joson has been an integral part of the AWBT’s success. As of the beginning of the second round, she has clocked in a total of 353 minutes played. To put into context how significant that figure is, the next Blue Eagle with the most minutes played is veteran Villacruz with 285 minutes.
Joson makes her presence felt in each game, even with factors that go beyond her astounding playing time totals. As the primary ball handler, the AWBT captain spearheads most of the team’s halfcourt plays. She is able to dissect the enemy team’s defense by consistently making the right reads and passes. Currently, Joson leads the team and the entire league in assists, being responsible for 73 of Ateneo’s 146 assist total while averaging 7.3 per game. When the ball is in her hands, there is a good chance that the possession will end in an Ateneo bucket.
In spite of these things, Joson’s game does not come without its own faults. The veteran guard is averaging 5.0 turnovers per game—the third most turnovers for any player in the league. While her timely assists are what drive Ateneo’s offense in games, Joson occasionally makes questionable decisions—passing crosscourt through multiple defenders for example—that wastes valuable possessions for the Blue and White.
Additionally, Joson is struggling from three-point range, only making eight of 55 total attempts. As most of her shots mainly come off the screen, Joson has ample space for most of her three-point plays. The captain only needs to convert these screens if she wants to further maximize her impact on the hardwood court—easier said than done, but worth noting nonetheless.
Despite the turnovers and the outside shooting slump, Joson’s strengths still greatly outweigh her weaknesses. From her ball-handling, to her playmaking, and even her intangible assets as an off-the-ball commander, Joson’s imprints are all over the Blue Eagle system. With the Final Four race heating up, the question is not whether the AWBT captain can sustain her game, but rather if she could elevate it just enough to send Ateneo to the postseason. One thing is for sure, as long as the ball is in the hands of number 15, we can expect a whole lot of good basketball.
2. A sticky situation
Eury: ALTHOUGH JOSON’S coast-to-coast drives have proven to be a crucial element to the team’s offensive gambits, minor slip-ups and blunders from the rest of the squad have become obstacles in their road towards victory.
In our previous Weekly Takeaways, we dabbled on how the AWBT’s missed scoring opportunities became major drawbacks when chalking up points on the scoreboard. As we then head into the second round of the tournament, it seems as though the girls would still need to further improve their skills in the same particular facets of the games. However, while costly turnovers and missed free throw attempts prove to be an ongoing challenge for the girls, other obstacles that have come into play also command an urgent response from the team.
While the AWBT’s 20 turnovers in last week’s match against the Lady Bulldogs definitely showed signs of their progress towards stabilizing their offense, forced shots and rushed possessions have also become a challenge for Ateneo. In attempts to get past NU’s stifling defense, the Blue and White fought back with forced baskets that left them at a disadvantage in the final quarter. Even when the Blue Eagles carefully laid out their cards and showcased impressive feats throughout the contest, their endeavors fell flat as their plays were not enough to win them the games.
A similar pattern also resurfaced in the Blue Eagles’ most recent match versus the Lady Archers. Although the Blue and White were able to maintain their lead early in the bout, foul troubles and passing errors caused the girls to ultimately fall behind their opponents in the second half. While Joson’s clutch three-pointer in the final seconds of the game gave her team leverage, a shot clock violation that followed suit left the AWBT with another one-point loss against their opponents.
[FOURTH QUARTER]
— Eury See (@Eury_TheGUIDON) November 6, 2022
Joson gives Ateneo the lead with a shot from way dowtown!
Ateneo 53 DLSU 51#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/Sw2i9i9GjI
Though the Katipunan-based squad has undoubtedly demonstrated a significant improvement in their overall growth, there may still be some things that the girls need to brush up on to secure more wins. In order to cross that stepping stone towards their success, Coach LA Mumar’s team may have to maneuver through their minor lapses by focusing more on composure and tenacity.
This week’s games:
Sunday, November 13, 3:00 PM, vs University of Santo Tomas Lady Tigresses at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion
