THE ATENEO Blue Eagles bowed to the defending champions, University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses, 54-77, in their second University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 outing. The game occurred earlier today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
With the loss, the Blue Eagles fell to the fourth seed with a record of 1-1.
Reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Kacey Dela Rosa once again handled the offensive load for the Blue Eagles, bagging 22 points on 8-11 shooting to go with 20 impressive rebounds.
It was a neck-and-neck game at the start of the first quarter, with both teams relentlessly executing their offensive and defensive schemes. The Blue Eagles dominated the paint, while the Growling Tigresses took command from beyond the arc.
Junize Calago opened the scoring for Ateneo after making a contested layup, 2-3. Alongside the shooting guard’s aggression from the tip, Kacey Dela Rosa displayed her patented prowess in the paint.
Meanwhile, the España-based unit, led by Kent Pastrana, responded to every bucket thrown at them. The Blue Eagles’ gradually lost their defensive synergy in the dying minutes of the first quarter, as the Growling Tigresses tenaciously executed their high pick-and-rolls, perimeter marksmanship, and Pastrana’s isolation plays. To close the frame, Ana Mae Tacatac of the Growling Tigresses drained a logo three at the buzzer after an interception, putting Ateneo at a 20-32 deficit.
Pastrana’s 13 points and five rebounds throughout the half were infectious for her squad, as UST scored at an efficient 46 percent clip, accompanied by 17 bench points in the half.
The Blue Eagles’ offensive flow in the second quarter was severely disrupted by UST’s tight defensive pressure, leading to multiple Ateneo errors. The Thomasians capitalized by recording eight points off 11 Ateneo turnovers, helping them seize their biggest lead in the half, 36-20.
With six minutes remaining in the second frame, the Ateneo offense finally showed signs of life after Kai Oani hit a long three to beat the expiring shot clock. Dela Rosa followed suit with another bucket in the paint, cutting the lead to 27-38. However, Agatha Bron spoiled the Blue Eagles’ run by nailing a contested three-pointer, 27-41.
Despite Ateneo outscoring the Growling Tigresses by two in the second frame, they still headed into the half trailing 34-44, largely due to their error-laden start to the canto.
Looking to further trim their deficit, Ateneo came out firing at the start of the third quarter, with Dela Rosa converting two scrappy putback buckets to make it a two-possession game, 38-44. Banking on Ateneo’s newfound momentum, Calago came up with multiple steals, one of which led to an Oani trey, 41-46.
However, the early rally was quickly dashed as Ateneo’s defense was struck by consecutive UST triples, instantly putting them back in a double-digit hole, 41-52. Foul trouble also proved to be fatal for the Blue Eagles, as a wave of defensive fouls handed the Growling Tigresses multiple charity shots, further plunging the Blue and White into a 15-point hole entering the final quarter, 48-63.
As the final quarter marched on, sluggish transition defense by the Blue Eagles made it difficult for them to contain the Growling Tigresses’ high-powered offense. On the other end, Ateneo was also overwhelmed by UST’s stifling defense, which only allowed them to score six fourth-quarter points. The final scoreboard read 77-54 in favor of the defending champions, handing Ateneo their first Season 87 defeat.
Ateneo will look to get back on the win column when they face the De La Salle University Lady Archers this Sunday, September 15, at 1:30 PM at the Adamson Gym in the City of Manila.
Box scores:
Ateneo (54): Dela Rosa – 22, Oani – 8, Calago – 8, Makanjuola – 7, Nieves – 4, Villacruz – 2, Aguirre – 2, Cancio – 1, Batongbakal – 0, Eufemiano – 0, Fetalvero – 0, Salgado – 0, Angala – 0, Olivenza – 0, Lopez – 0
UST (77): Pastrana – 20, Tacatac – 14, Soriano – 12, Ambos – 10, Relliquette – 4, Bron – 4, Sierba – 4, Dioniso – 3, Danganan – 2, Serrano – 2, Pineda – 2, Santos – 0, Maglupay – 0, Amatong – 0, Pescador – 0
Quarter scores:
Ateneo-UST: 20-32, 34-44, 48-63, 54-77
Current Standings (W-L):
- UST Growling Tigresses (2-0)
- AdU Lady Falcons (2-0)
- NU Lady Bulldogs (1-0)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-1)
- UP Fighting Maroons (0-1)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (0-1)
- UE Lady Warriors (0-1)
- DLSU Lady Archers (0-2)
