THE ATENEO Blue Eagles pulled away from the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in a grind-out match, 14-8. The contest occurred earlier today, April 28, at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in the City of Parañaque.

This win puts the Blue Eagles at a 2-1 win-loss record in the elimination round standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Women’s 3×3 Basketball Tournament. Tied with Far Eastern University, this provisionally places Ateneo in second place as of writing.

Kacey Dela Rosa and Kai Oani served as offensive engines for the Blue and White, scoring all of their team’s 14 points. The reigning UAAP Women’s 3×3 Most Valuable Player notched eight points off 8-for-12 shooting from the field, and raked in nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Ateneo’s sharpshooter dropped six markers, while shooting 40% from beyond the arc, to go along with four boards and two assists.

The Battle of Katipunan’s halfcourt installment started off as a dogfight with both teams trading baskets, 2-2, until Oani drilled a tough deuce to hand Ateneo a two-point advantage, 4-2.

Even with UP’s Louna Ozar retaliating, Dela Rosa quickly went into third gear by scoring off quick scoop layups off dishes from Oani, 6-3. The Ateneo big then went toe-to-toe against Fighting Maroon Shane Cunanan, with both players scoring the next six points until a shot by Cunanan from downtown forced the Blue Eagles to regroup, 8-7.

From thereon, the Blue and White shut the door on UP and dominated the contest. Throughout the final half of the ball game, Oani continued to wax hot from beyond the arc, scoring three straight points, 11-7. Dela Rosa joined the party, chipping in two clinical buckets of her own, utilizing her towering height advantage, 13-7. Oani then capped off Ateneo’s blazing 6-0 run with a running floater, 14-7.

With time expiring, Ozar’s last-ditch shot came too late as the Blue Eagles scored their second-straight win in the tournament, 14-8.

The Blue Eagles will return to action for a double-header against the De La Salle University Lady Archers and Adamson University Lady Falcons on Thursday, April 30, starting at 2:40 PM in the same venue.

Box scores:

Ateneo (14): Dela Rosa – 8, Oani – 6, H. Lopez – 0, L. Lopez – 0

UP (8): Cunanan – 4, Ozar – 2, Vingno – 2, Maw – 0

Current Standings (W-L):

1. UST Growling Tigresses (3-0)
2. ATENEO Blue Eagles (2-1)
3. FEU Lady Tamaraws (2-1)
4. DLSU Lady Archers (1-1)
5. UE Lady Warriors (1-1)
6. AdU Lady Falcons (1-1)
7. NU Lady Bulldogs (0-2)
8. UP Fighting Maroons (0-3)