THE ATENEO Blue Eagles finalized their Final Four status, capturing a lopsided victory over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 94-68. The match was held earlier today, November 19, at the Mall of Asia Arena in the City of Pasay.
This victory improves the Blue Eagles’ win-loss record to 8-4 in the elimination round standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), securing Ateneo the third overall seed. The Blue and White’s overall finish in the elimination round is their best standing since UAAP Season 70 in 2007.
Reigning Most Valuable Player Kacey Dela Rosa led the Blue and White in their Final Four-clinching outing with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Meanwhile, rookie Erica De Luna tallied her own double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Sarah Makanjoula also put in a strong night, providing the team with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Supplementing Makanjoula, Kai Oani and Camille Malagar also notched 10 points each.
Following the opening whistle, Sandra Villacruz started the scoring for the Blue Eagles with a midrange banker, 2-0. Following this bucket, Oani tallied a triple from the wings to extend the Blue and White’s lead, 5-2. Looking for an answer, Camille Nolasco willed her team to an advantage, scoring seven points in a row, 7-11.
Looking to stop Nolasco’s scoring outburst, Dela Rosa ended her squad’s drought with a jumper from the charity stripe, 9-11. Dela Rosa continued this momentum by scoring with a spin move, alongside Makanjoula’s putback, equaling the Fighting Maroons, 13-13. Fighting for the advantage, rookie De Luna cleaned her teammate’s miss to give the Blue Eagles the lead, 15-14. To end the first quarter, Dela Rosa caught an inbound pass and soared for an and-one conversion, 18-16.
Opening the second canto, UP’s Achrissa Maw initiated the scoring for the second quarter with an and-one bucket of her own, 18-19. Following Maw’s exploits, the Blue Eagles struggled to contain Nolasco and Louna Ozar as the Maroon duo scored four quick points, 20-24. Looking to answer back, Dela Rosa and Malagar scored seven points through various buckets, including a Malagar three, 27-26.
With the aim of building on their advantage, Blue Eagle Kate Cancio scored a quick layup, 29-26. Inserting a spark off the bench, Coach L.A. Mumar subbed in De Luna, who made a quick impact by scoring a triple, 32-27. After the three-pointer, both teams went back and forth as Dela Rosa and Gracie Batongbakal downed multiple layups, 36-32. Towards the end of the second quarter, UP’s Kaye Pasquera scored a triple, bringing the game within one, 36-35. Dela Rosa then spun in the paint to score a quick bucket before the halftime buzzer sounded, 38-35.
Eager to establish a sizable deficit, the Blue Eagles entered the second half with unwavering determination, going on a 7-0 run backed behind an Oani three pointer and layup inside, 45-38. Sensing blood in the water, De Luna built upon the lead further by converting another layup that increased the difference to ten and forced a UP timeout, 48-38.
With the momentum growing for the Blue and White, the team began to ramp up the pressure through tenacious defense, forcing UP turnovers and preventing the Fighting Maroons from building any offensive rhythm, 52-43.
Determined to close the third quarter in dominant fashion, the Blue Eagles went on a 12-5 run to end the frame through an array of baskets from Dela Rosa and Malagar, 66-48.
Despite their earlier dominance, the Blue Eagles’ momentum slowed down in the fourth quarter as UP went on a quick run to narrow the deficit, 70-57. However, the Blue Eagles rapidly picked up where they left off, as De Luna took the game into her own hands, scoring seven points in an 8-0 blitz, 78-57.
Makanjoula and Lopez then put the finishing touches on the match through a pair of layups and a shot from distance, 89-64. With time winding down in garbage time, both teams began to put up shots, trading baskets until the game ultimately ended at 94-68.
Hoping to continue their strong form, the Blue Eagles will face the Adamson Lady Falcons this Sunday, November 19, in the same venue.
Box scores:
Ateneo (94): Dela Rosa – 22, De Luna – 16, Makanjoula – 12, Malagar – 10, Oani – 10, Lopez – 7, Batongbakal – 5, Cancio – 5, Villacruz – 4, Fetalvero – 3
UP (68): Nolasco – 17, Ozar – 16, Maw – 10, Solitario – 8, Mendoza – 6, Vingno – 5, Pesquera – 3, Mejasco – 2, Cunanan – 1
Quarter/Set scores:
Ateneo-UP: 18-16, 38-37, 66-48, 94-68
Current Standings (W-L):
- UST Growling Tigresses (12-0)*
- NU Lady Bulldogs (12-1)*
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (8-4)*
- Adamson Lady Falcons (6-7)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (5-7)
- De La Salle Lady Archers (4-8)
- UP Fighting Maroons (3-10)
- UE Lady Warriors (0-13)
* – clinched Final Four
