THE ATENEO Blue Eagles failed to upset the defending champions National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in their 52-89 loss earlier today at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

After their loss today, Blue Eagles are at a 1-1 standing in the elimination round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Kacey Dela Rosa led the Blue and White with a 24-point and 17-rebound double-double. LJ Miranda followed up with nine points, while Sandra Villacruz contributed five assists.

Ateneo fell behind a 20-point scoring run by the Lady Bulldogs in the first quarter. They struggled to find footing against the fluid offense of NU, giving up open basket lanes and wide-open perimeter shots. Coupled with costly turnovers from sloppy passes, the Blue Eagles found themselves with a 17-point deficit after the first quarter, 9-26.

The Blue Eagles showed signs of life in the second quarter after Dela Rosa’s early scoring bursts helped cut NU’s lead down to nine points, 15-26. To boot, Ateneo’s stellar defense caused the Lady Bulldogs to miss shots and force turnovers. However after a much-needed timeout, NU regained their momentum and ended the first half with a 14 point lead, 42-28.

Into the second half, Ateneo continued to keep up with the defending champions’ consistent scoring runs, as a result of their suffocating half-court defense. Ateneo’s missed offensive opportunities led to open beyond-the-arc shots for NU—the final nail in the coffin as the Lady Bulldogs ended the game with a 37-point lead, 52-89.

The Blue Eagles will look to bounce back in a match against their archrivals De La Salle University Lady Archers at the Araneta Coliseum this Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 10:00 AM.

Box score:

Ateneo – Dela Rosa – 24, Miranda – 9, Joson – 4, Calago – 4, Nieves – 4

NU – Pingol – 17, Clarin – 14, Cacho – 13, Edimo Tiky – 13, Cayabyab – 9

Quarter Scores (Ateneo-NU):

9-26, 28-42, 41-60, 52-89