IN ONE of the best showdowns of the season, the Blue Eagles narrowly missed their trip to the Finals as they lost a hard-fought battle against the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs, 66-67, in round 2 of the stepladder.  The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) semifinals bout was held earlier today, December 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

This loss ends Ateneo’s championship bid, with the Blue Eagles concluding UAAP Season 88 as the bronze medalists. Notably, it is the Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team’s (AWBT) first podium finish since 2015.

Camille Malagar followed her impressive performance from the last game by finishing with a statline of 18 points, six rebounds, four triples, and two steals. Kacey Dela Rosa added a dominant double-double to the affair with 18 points and 22 rebounds, while Kai Oani recorded nine points herself. On NU’s side, Marga Villanueva ended the contest with 16 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs.

Out of the gates, the Blue Eagles were engaged in a two-way display that pressured the defending champions. Oani set the tone by stealing the ball off an errant pass that opened the scoring for Ateneo, 2-0. Dela Rosa followed with back-to-back rim attempts to put the Blue and White ahead, 6-0. Despite baskets from NU’s superstars in Kristine Cayabyab and Karl Ann Pingol, Hannah Lopez and Dela Rosa answered back with their own inside buckets, 10-4. 

Ateneo’s defensive steam evaporated as the Lady Bulldogs attacked relentlessly in the paint to build an 8-0 sprint, 10-12. Towards the end of the frame, Sarah Makanjuola anchored the defensive side of the ball to slow down NU’s attack. Her quarter-ending free throws put the contest at a 12-all deadlock.

The Blue and White returned with offensive fire to begin the second frame, as Gracie Batongbakal swished an open three-pointer, 15-12. Sandra Villacruz and Makanjuola then traded basket after basket with the Lady Bulldogs’ Bonie Solis and Villanueva from all three levels of the court, 21-21. Dela Rosa and Erica De Luna sparked a small 4-0 sprint from NU’s mistakes to keep Ateneo ahead, 25-21.

Turnovers from the Blue Eagles put the team on the receiving end of a 9-0 sprint from the Lady Bulldogs, 25-30. Oani mitigated Ateneo’s struggles with a triple from the top of the key, followed by Makanjuola’s dominating lay-in to tie the game at 30-all. To end the first half, Malagar and Cayabyab exchanged jumpers with the Blue and White maintaining the lead, 36-34. 

Following the second half break, Oani drained a quick three-pointer to further the advantage, 39-34. Despite both teams trading baskets, Dela Rosa and Malagar continued to fight on the glass, securing second-chance opportunities, 45-39.

Unable to maintain the upper hand in a low -coring grudge match, the Blue Eagles struggled to contain Pingol and Angel Surada, as the duo narrowed the deficit to end the third, 49-48.

In the final quarter, Dela Rosa once again made her presence known, securing a big offensive rebound and a tough and-one finish, 52-48. However, Ateneo quickly found themselves in yet another deadlock, as Surada and Aloha Betanio answered back, 52-52.

Determined to turn the tide, the Blue and White fired back with a 7-0 run to regain the advantage, 59-52. In the following minutes, each side took turns draining baskets, with Ateneo entering the final stages of the fourth with a slim lead, 66-60. 

However, the Blue Eagles failed to contain NU’s relentless attack, giving up a string of opportunities to the reigning champions in a 6-0 blitz to tie the game at 66-all. 

Despite defending the last shot of the game with hopes of entering overtime, the Blue Eagles failed to contain the Lady Bulldogs on the glass, as Surada grabbed an offensive rebound in the final moments, drawing a foul from Makanjoula with 0.6 left on the clock. 

After Surada drained one from the line, Ateneo was unable to take a final attempt due to a lack of time, losing the game and dropping out of contention this season, 66-67.

Despite the loss, the Blue Eagles will look back on Season 88 positively after gaining their first podium finish since 2015. As this tough Ateneo squad says goodbye to graduating seniors Gracie Batongbakal, Sandra Villacruz, and Monique Fetalvero, the Blue and White aims to regroup with reinforcements to claim their long-awaited crown next Season 89.

Box Scores:

Ateneo (66): Dela Rosa – 18, Malagar – 18, Oani – 9, Makanjuola – 7, H. Lopez – 5, Villacruz – 4, Batongbakal – 3, De Luna – 3

NU (67): Villanueva – 16, Surada – 15, Cayabyab – 15, Pingol – 10, Solis – 6, Betanio – 4, Medina – 1

Quarter scores:

Ateneo-NU: 12-12, 36-34, 49-48, 66-67