The Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team (AWBT) endured a brutal loss against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 48-71. The customary Battle of Katipunan unfolded earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Today’s defeat hands Ateneo their fourth loss in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Women’s Basketball Tournament. The loss further widens the gap between the top three teams and the Blue Eagles in the standings.
In authoritative fashion, Louna Ozar guided the Fighting Maroons with 17 points and four steals. Favour Onoh trailed Ozar’s commanding operation with 13 markers and 12 rebounds to her jersey number. From the other corner, Junize Calago stood tall for the Blue and White even in the loss, gathering 15 points and 12 boards.
The Blue Eagles’ offense from the get-go took the Fighting Maroons by surprise, as they would establish an early advantage capped off by Jhazmin Joson’s three-pointer which gave Ateneo its largest lead of the game, 11-4.
UP eventually found their momentum through their stingy full-court press. The trailing squad found easy looks near the basket and prevented their Katipunan neighbors from being aggressive in the lane thanks to their tight defense. Christie Bariquit’s offensive board and a forced AWBT error in back-to-back possessions helped the Maroons recapture the lead, 14-12.
With less than a minute left, the UPWBT continued to pick on the Blue and White into committing 10 turnovers in the first quarter alone. Shanina Tapawan added insult to Ateneo’s injuries by nailing a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to put the Fighting Maroons ahead at the end of the first period, 19-12.
The scoring drought of the Blue Eagles carried over in the first two minutes of the second quarter. Sandra Villacruz’s extra charity shot after an acrobatic finish would cap off the AWBT’s five-minute dry spell, 15-20. After exchanging baskets, Ateneo reinvigorated their offensive momentum as they found opportunities to push down the lane for high-percentage baskets. A trio of drives from Calago and Sarah Makanjuola turned the bout into a one-possession game, 23-24.
With the Blue Eagles within striking distance, UP heard Tapawan’s wake-up call through a second-chance effort and basket, 26-23. AWBT used a quick breather to regroup but would find their defense crumble from the Fighting Maroons’ quick 8-0 scoring surge after the short break. Shortly after, Rea Sanchez nabbed another offensive rebound and fired one from deep for the newly awakened UP. In the ensuing possession, Kaye Pesquera nailed her own three-pointer to extend the lead for the second-seeded crew by double digits, 33-23.
Calago sealed UP’s quick offensive burst by sinking one out of her two free throws during the dying seconds of the first half. Ateneo would find themselves in the passenger seat by the end of the second canto, 24-34.
The tune of the game did not change in the third quarter even with efforts from the Ateneo squad. The Fighting Maroons repeatedly contested every one of the Blue Eagles’ attacks at the rim, leading to numerous missed shots. Nevertheless, the Blue Eagles did not waver with Makanjuola, Calago, and Dela Rosa gradually closing the lead bit by bit, 31-38.
The momentum was looking good for Ateneo until UP upped their offensive game to continue their dominant run, starting with Ozar draining an easy bucket, 31-43. The Diliman-based squad relentlessly bombarded the Blue Eagles with perimeter shots from Pesquera and Ozar’s impeccable looks to her teammates, 39-60.
The Fighting Maroons’ terrifying defensive schemes carried over to the final canto to the detriment of the Blue Eagles. Not much action occurred during the quarter with UP exchanging blows with the Ateneo squad, 44-63. Onoh would feast on the Blue Eagles’ negligent defense, drawing fouls and creating space for easy shots at the rim, 46-69. In the dying seconds, UP would dribble the ball out, putting the game to bed in a cold and calculated manner, 48-71.
The Blue Eagles aim to bounce back from the humbling loss as they challenge the Adamson University’s Lady Falcons for aerial supremacy on Wednesday, at 09:00 AM in the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.
Quarter scores:
Ateneo-UP: 12-19, 24-34, 39-60, 48-71
Box scores:
Ateneo (48): Calago – 15 , Dela Rosa – 9 , Makanjuola – 8, Joson – 6, Gastador – 4, Cancio – 3, Villacruz – 3
UP (71): Ozar – 17, Onoh – 13, Pesquera – 11, Bariquit – 6, Sanchez – 5, Tapawan – 4, Domingo – 4, Lozada – 4, Maw – 3, Jimenez – 2, Sauz – 2
Current Standings (W-L)
- NU Lady Bulldogs: 9-1
- UP Fighting Maroons: 8-2
- UST Lady Tigresses: 7-3
- ATENEO Blue Eagles: 6-4
- DLSU Lady Archers: 4-6
- ADU Lady Falcons: 3-7
- FEU Lady Tamaraws: 3-7
- UE Lady Warriors: 0-10
