THE ATENEO Blue Eagles continued their hot streak in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Women’s Basketball tournament after defeating the Adamson University Lady Falcons, 70-60. The contest took place earlier today, September 28, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
This marks the first win of the Blue Eagles against the Lady Falcons since Season 86.
The two-time Most Valuable Player Kacey Dela Rosa shone in the Battle of the Birds, securing 24 points, 19 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals on a staggering 88.9% shooting despite shouldering four fouls during most of the game. Adding onto the Blue Eagles’ offense were Camille Malagar with 13 points and Sarah Makanjuola with a near double-double, collecting nine points and 15 rebounds.
Entering the opening frame, both teams struggled to make baskets as foul trouble and turnovers plagued the court. Ateneo found their problems with defensive coordination, allowing AdU’s Novie Ornopia to bank an open jumper, 0-2. On the other end, Makanjuola opened the offense for the Blue Eagles with a wide-open layup from Dela Rosa, 2-2. However, the Blue Eagles failed to follow through on the transition, allowing the Lady Falcons’ Angeline Alaba a basket, 2-4.
Kate Cancio answered with a contested layup over two defenders, putting the score at a standstill, 4-4. From then on, the Blue and White conducted a 6-0 run, courtesy of Makanjuola and Erica de Luna’s offensive prowess inside the paint. With the Blue Eagles ahead, 10-4, Makanjuola’s presence was tested with Ornopia getting two buckets over her, 12-8. Despite Malagar’s tough drive to the rim, Ateneo surrendered two more free throws, ending the first quarter at 14-10.
Both teams went on a back-and-forth to start the second frame. Adamson’s Brianna Bajo scored a layup off of a turnover, which was quickly answered by Dela Rosa’s two charities, 16-12. Ateneo then struggled to defend the Lady Falcons’ offense, surrendering both a 0-7 run and their lead to Adamson, 16-19. However, the Katipunan–based squad immediately bounced back with a 8-2 run as Kai Oani and Malagar made it rain from rainbow country, 24-21.
The Blue Eagles struggled to secure rebounds with five minutes left in the canto, resulting in a three from Adamson’s Crisnalyn Padilla for the deadlock, 29-29. Looking for the breakthrough, reigning MVP Dela Rosa outmuscled Oluwakemi Adeshina in the post, leading to an and-one opportunity, 32-29. Sophomore Oani then buried a jumper from beyond the arc to end the half in favor of the Blue Eagles, 35-31.
Returning to the hardwood, Makanjuola continued her dominance inside the painted area with another basket, 37-31. While Ateneo’s overall defense began to falter through late contests, Camille Malagar hastily stopped the bleeding by drilling a mid-range jumper, 39-37. With Dela Rosa back on the court with four fouls, the two-time MVP traded baskets with the Lady Falcons, keeping the lead at two, 41-39.
Midway through the frame, the Blue Eagles found their offensive rhythm, with de Luna and Dela Rosa getting ahead of the defense to score consecutive layups, 45-41. The Blue and White’s Gracie Batongbakal and Cancio finished off a 9-0 unanswered run with a three and a transition bucket, respectively, 50-41.
Towards the end of the quarter, Ateneo faced difficulties containing AdU’s Cheska Apag, who was only contested by Malagar—the latter then connected on another triple, 55-46. With only six seconds left in the quarter, de Luna made the most of the time and banked in a buzzer-beating running floater to enter the fourth ahead, 57-49.
Riddled by turnovers, the Blue Eagles surrendered a 6-0 run to the Lady Falcons in the beginning of the final frame, 57-56. Despite having four fouls, star forward Dela Rosa put the team on her back, scoring six straight points after outmuscling Adeshina in the paint, 63-58. After this dominant offensive barrage, the Blue Eagles surged ahead and concluded the game with a commanding 70-60 victory.
The Blue Eagles aim to keep their spotless record as they face the De La Salle University Lady Archers on October 5, Sunday, at 7:00 PM in the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Box Scores:
Ateneo (70): Dela Rosa — 24, Malagar — 13, Makanjuola — 9, de Luna — 8, Cancio — 7, Oani — 6, Batongbakal — 3
AdU (60): Etang — 15, Apag — 14, Ornopia — 6, Bajo — 5, Meniano — 4, Adeshina — 4, Limbago — 4, Alaba — 2
Quarter scores:
Ateneo-AdU: 14-10, 35-31, 57-49, 70-60
Current Standings (W-L)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (2-0)
- UP Fighting Maroons (2-0)
- UST Growling Tigresses(1-0)
- NU Lady Bulldogs (1-0)
- DLSU Lady Archers (0-1)
- UE Lady Warriors (0-1)
- AdU Lady Falcons (0-2)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (0-2)
