After securing their second consecutive Final Four appearance in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86, the Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team (AWBT) looks to chase greater heights. This weekly takeaways series delves into the squad’s performance as they trek through Season 87 intent on attaining glory.
APPROACHING THE halfway stage of the first round of eliminations, the AWBT continues to make their presence felt in the league, with a record of two wins and one loss to their name.
The Blue Eagles launched their Season 87 campaign with a decisive 79-68 triumph over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. Reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kacey Dela Rosa stole the spotlight with a stellar performance, making headlines with a career-high of 34 points and 11 rebounds.
The Blue and White’s hopes of maintaining a victory stretch were dashed, however, after stumbling to a 54-77 defeat in a clash against the defending champion University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses. Unfazed by the setback, the Katipunan-based squad rallied back to secure a thrilling 65-62 victory and quell the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers in a tightly contested battle.
Aiming to sharpen their record as the season progresses, the AWBT must now seize every opportunity to harness their momentum and solidify their position among the league’s elite.
Inside presence
Photo by Karl Dimaculangan
Eury: The Blue Eagle cagers’ recent performances have been marked by a standout feature: their impressive command of scoring in the paint.
This strategic advantage has been evident in the AWBT’s most recent matchups, underscoring their skill in capitalizing on close-range scoring opportunities. Their knack for scoring down low has become a key factor that has significantly amplified their offensive success on the hardwood.
In their clash against the Fighting Maroons, the Blue Eagles displayed their formidable inside game by racking up an impressive 50 points in the paint. Thanks to Dela Rosa and Ateneo big Sarah Makanjuola, the squad’s precision was nothing short of remarkable, reflected in a stellar 56.8% shooting accuracy from close range. This performance contrasted sharply with UP’s efforts, who managed only 26 points in the paint despite a reasonable 46.4% shooting clip.
Ateneo’s reign in the paint rolled on in their clash with the Growling Tigresses, where they once again flexed their post-play prowess. The Blue Eagles asserted their strength by putting up 28 points in the shaded area with a percentage of 46.7%. Despite finishing on the losing end, the Blue and White still outperformed the España-based squad in points near the rim, with both teams shooting at nearly identical percentages.
To cap off their most recent landmark, the Blue Eagles put on a clinic against the Lady Archers with a staggering 36 points by the iron at an exceptional 64.3% shooting clip. While the cagers from Taft often rallied behind a barrage of three-pointers, the Blue and White kept their control by attacking the basket from the interior. Fueled by the strong maneuvers of Team Captain Sandra Villacruz and Junize Calago around the cup, Ateneo’s command of the post ultimately proved to be the difference-maker in the contest.
By capitalizing on mismatches and targeting high-percentage shots, the ladies in Blue and White have carved out a notable edge over their rivals. As the Katipunan cagers move forward, their impressive inside presence remains a crucial component of their strategy, potentially proving decisive in their quest for further success in the collegiate league.
Critical closeout
Photo by Karl Dimaculangan
Diego: Despite masterful showings by the AWBT in the first three quarters of play, the Blue and White’s kryptonite comes in the fourth, struggling to hold the line against their opposition.
Cold shooting and costly turnovers are some of the main culprits for the Blue Eagles’ woes. In their contest against the Growling Tigresses, the Katipunan-based squad was unable to break through double-digit scoring in the fourth quarter, racking up only six points compared to UST’s 14.
Turnovers were also a primary factor that resulted in limited scoring opportunities for the Blue and White and easy pickings for the squad in Gold and Black. Guards Kai Oani and Calago made multiple attempts throughout the matchup to drop an overhead pass to center Sarah Makanjuola for an easy lay-in. However, due to UST’s lockdown defense, these passes would result in turnovers and empty possessions.
Even in their winning effort against DLSU, lapses on both ends of the floor were evident. Despite entering the final quarter with a massive 13-point lead, the Blue Eagles edged out a narrow three-point victory in their bout against the Lady Archers.
In the fourth period, Ateneo was outscored by their Taft rivals, 14-24, with the Blue and White giving up multiple shot attempts by the Lasallians from beyond the arc. With DLSU coming out guns blazing in the fourth, their high-octane offense easily cut the lead of the Blue Eagles to as little as one. Had it not been for two clutch free throws by rookie sensation Oani in the final seconds of the fourth, the bout could have easily swung in favor of DLSU.
Moving forward, the Blue Eagles must continue to uphold the grit and grind culture—which they have established within the team—and carry it over to the game’s deciding quarter. With the pieces to carry out a winning campaign at their disposal, the next step now lies in keeping their poise under pressure to shut down their opponents and clinch crucial victories.
Erupting brilliance of Kai Oani
Photo by Finomena Chang
Moss: Endorsing their hopes for a triumphant run, the Blue Eagles have also observed the foreseen brilliance that Gilas Youth standout Kai Oani can bring to their roster.
Joining the Loyola Heights-based unit this UAAP season, the rookie has been an instrumental piece in the team’s dynamic, hinting at endless potential with her staggering work alongside Villacruz, Dela Rosa, Makanjuola, and Calago.
In Ateneo’s opening win against the Fighting Maroon squad, the highly-touted prospect played nearly 34 minutes with eight points and four steals to her name. Meanwhile, in their game against the Growling Tigers, Oani established eight points and three assists in 31 minutes of action, and scored ten points—including two crucial free throws—during their tightly-contested victory over DLSU.
Throughout her performances, the rising point guard has visibly shown her ability to command the play of the Blue and White, creating scoring chances for her unit in the paint. More importantly, however, she has shown her ability to shoot from deep, such as her quick pull-up from beyond the arc with just over three minutes left in the first quarter against La Salle. Growing in her role, she has scored the majority of long-distance bombs for the squad with six threes in three games.
This impeccable start is no longer a surprise, as the alumni of California-based institution St. Joseph High School has consistently shown her brilliance on the court, averaging just over 22 points per game for her former alma mater and ranked 22nd in charges taken in California. For her current collegiate team, it is only a matter of time before the up-and-coming phenom puts up numbers akin to her St. Joseph excellence.
For week one of their campaign, Coach La Mumar’s squad has established a fiery regime inside the opposing paint, sending resounding points against those they faced. However, as seen in the last few results, the Atenean cagers need to elevate composure in the final canto to collect convincing victories. With fresh energy such as Oani, the Blue Eagles will hope to maintain their prowess throughout the battle, taking each game with a dub.
This week’s games
Saturday, September 21, 1:30 PM, vs. Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
Sunday, September 29, 1:30 PM, vs. Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
