FACING THE University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) powerhouse National University (NU), the Ateneo Lady Eagles fell to the Lady Bulldogs, 50-59, in their opening match of the 2017 Pilipinas Chinese Basketball Amateur League (PCABL) – Dickies Women’s Cup on Saturday, June 24, at the Buddhacare Gym in Quezon City.
The first quarter saw Ateneo kick off to a flying start, racing ahead to an early 7-0 scoring run. The backcourt tandem of Hazelle Yam and Jolina Go did well in the early stages of the first quarter as they drilled shot-after-shot to fuel the lead. However, NU soon found their ground in the later half of the quarter, with pocket threes from Je-Anne Carmelo and Riixie Antiquera proving deadly as NU ended the first quarter on top by one.
In the second quarter, NU displayed their offensive firepower and relentlessly attacked the basket from the field and the free throw line. Eventually, the first half would come to a close with NU changing the tide completely by going up at 32-19.
Exiting the halftime break, Trina Guytingco gave the Lady Eagles new life as she continuously attacked the basket and drilled mid-range jumpers to close the gap. Additionally, Jolina Go and Hazelle Yam did well to support Guytingo, with the duo putting in numerous fast-break points to cut down the lead.
However, NU’s full-court press proved to be problematic for the Lady Eagles in the last two minutes of the game saw, as the Blue and White failed to score a single point in the last minute and thirty seconds against the Lady Bulldogs’ crushing defense. Eventually, NU would take the game, 59-50, to set Ateneo on a (0-1) win-loss record in the PCABL.
The Lady Eagles will square off against the Adamson Lady Falcons on Sunday, July 2, at the Buddhacare Gym in Quezon City.
Box Scores:
Ateneo: Guytingco – 14, Go – 12, Yam – 11, Newsome – 5, Deacon – 4, Buendia – 3, Villamor – 1
NU: Pingol – 9, Itesi – 8, Nabalan – 7, Camelo – 7, Animam – 7, Antiquera – 5, Cacho – 4, Harada – 4, Sison – 3, Ceno – 3, Del Carmen – 2
