Following their semifinal finish at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Women’s Basketball Tournament, the Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team (AWBT) is back. This weekly series will analyze the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ state as they aspire to win it all.

THE ATENEO Women’s Basketball Team (AWBT) continues to script a remarkable narrative of transcending their once-underdog status by extending their winning stretch to a four-game crescendo. 

To start off their impressive run, the Blue Eagles secured their third win of the tournament after outlasting the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors, 72-62. The Loyola Heights-based squad then came back from an early double-digit deficit to notch a hard-fought victory over the gritty Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, 72-64.

As the first round of elimination games now nears its conclusion, the Blue Eagles have undoubtedly established themselves in the upper echelon of the Women’s Basketball tournament. However, they still face formidable challenges that put their resilience and determination to the test, calling them to remain focused and unwavering in their pursuit of victory.

1. Hero ball

Alfonso: The AWBT’s current success in the standings can be attributed to their ability to stay true to their offensive and defensive game plans. More specifically, the Blue Eagles have thrived on scoring inside the painted area while also being proactive on defense.

Sophomore standout Kacey Dela Rosa has undoubtedly been the main scoring option for the Blue Eagles throughout the first round. Her commanding presence in the paint, as well as her ability to set the tone on defense, has allowed Ateneo to find comfort on both ends. Throughout the first five games of the round, the star center has managed an outstanding double-double average of 18.4 points and 12.6 rebounds. The dominant big has definitely lived up to the expectations set by Head Coach LA Mumar.

Similarly, Junize Calago has been the surprise breakout star for the AWBT early on. The guard’s ability to thrive on both ends has allowed Ateneo to go on lengthy scoring runs, especially in the latter stages of the game. Additionally, her partnership in the backcourt alongside veteran Jhazmine Joson has provided the Blue Eagles a reliable offense that keeps opposing teams at bay. The sophomore guard’s most prominent performance so far has considerably been against the De La Salle Lady Archers, wherein she managed a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double. Calago’s energetic play and “never say die” attitude have been a high point for Ateneo, as these traits may help the team outlast stronger opposition in the coming weeks.

Though her presence has not yet been felt in the scoring department, star guard Joson has made the most out of her leadership role. More specifically, the Gilas player’s importance down the stretch has been very prominent as she has made a couple of crucial shots for the Blue Eagles down the stretch. The Team Captain has also filled the box score with averages of 8.8 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game. As history suggests, there is still a lot of time for Joson to provide the necessary scoring outbursts that would separate the Blue Eagles from the rest of the pack.

Outside of the individual success brought by the three Blue Eagles, Coach Mumar has also found himself a dependable supporting cast. Sarah Makanjoula has been the unanimous spark plug for the Blue Eagles, perfectly filling the center spot on both ends of the court. Meanwhile, Ateneo wing Sandra Villacruz’s aggressive drives and silky jumpers have allowed her to significantly contribute on offense.

However, despite finding a winning formula throughout their past four games, Ateneo still has to make some more adjustments in order to outlast the competition ahead.

2. Balancing act

Eury: While it is undeniable that the AWBT’s standout players have been instrumental in their recent string of victories, the substantial disparity between the points scored by the starters and those from the bench is something worth pointing out.

Over the last two games, it has been evident that the squad’s starting players have significantly contributed to the total number of points racked up on the scoreboard. For example, in their showdown against the Lady Warriors, the Blue Eagles’ starters amassed an impressive total of 65 points as compared to the bench’s seven points. In fact, the same numbers took shape once again in their next fixture against the Lady Tamaraws. Given this pattern, on average, Ateneo’s first unit contributed approximately 90% of the total points, while its second unit was responsible for the remaining 10%.

In contrast, however, their adversaries adopted a more balanced approach to the scoring spectrum in these two recent games. UE showcased this equilibrium with their starters contributing 34 points and the bench adding 28 more. Similarly, FEU mirrored similar scoring dynamics as their starters provided a total of 46 points while the bench contributed 18. 

While this starters-bench points discrepancy has not directly affected the Blue and White’s recent hardwood performance, it raises valid concerns about the team’s long-term performance. The possibility where the starters struggle and the bench rises to the occasion cannot be entirely discounted. Perhaps, the predominance of the starting lineup may also inadvertently restrict the chances for the second string to display their talents and actively contribute to the team’s offensive efforts.

However, from a strategic standpoint, it is worth exploring whether this blueprint is a deliberate element of the team’s game plan. For instance, Coach Mumar’s steady decision of entrusting second-fiddle rookie Aishe Solis with three-point shooting responsibilities during the most crucial moments of the matches may serve as an illustration of this strategy.

Nonetheless, this observed scoring chasm prompts a crucial reflection on the balance between the starters and the bench. Addressing this differential and optimizing the contributions of both groups will be pivotal for sustaining the team’s excellence in the long run.

3. Tigers and fighters

Rav: As previously mentioned, it is absolutely imperative for the AWBT to address the disparity of starters and reserves, especially as they match against the intimidating University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses and the undefeated University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in their final two bouts of round one.

Despite coming off a two-game skid, the Tigresses are no slouches. The team in yellow encountered two powerhouses in those contests—UP, which had hitherto been at the top of the standings, and the historically dominant National University Lady Bulldogs (NU). Hence, the two losses are not enough of an indicator to properly assess the Golden Tigresses’ strength. In fact, the España-based team is a cause for alarm considering they went toe-to-toe with the Fighting Maroons last Saturday in an overtime thriller battle. The Blue Eagles will be making a terrible lapse in judgment if they even dare to underestimate their Wednesday opponents. Fortunately, NU and UP defanging the Tigresses have provided the Katipunan-based squad valuable insights that they can utilize in their bout. With the blueprint in hand, Ateneo can adjust their player rotations and tactics to overcome UST.

The focal point of Ateneo’s shrewd schemes should be UST’s Jane Pastrana. Even with flashes of brilliance, just like her performance versus the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons, Pastrana has been inconsistent in terms of her shooting efficiency throughout the tournament so far. A prime instance of her ensuing struggles came against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, wherein she went 0/9 from the field. To vanquish the Golden Tigresses, Ateneo’s so-far stellar defense must capitalize on Pastrana’s flaws, exacerbating them further.

On Saturday, there lies an even more arduous challenge in the form of the unscathed UP Fighting Maroons. Echoing Eury’s emphasis on balanced scoring opportunities for both starters and bench players, UP has clearly demonstrated that same ideology in their immaculate start. In every single one of the Fighting Maroons’ games, a perception of harmony prevails with how the players flawlessly alternate their scoring responsibilities with one another. The manifestation of this graceful delegation materialized when UP’s bench outscored AdU’s by 29 points.

Be that as it may, on the defensive side, UP has shown to completely bank on their foreign student athlete Favour Onoh for rim protection and rebounding. This said reliance could open a small vulnerability that Ateneo can possibly exploit. By endlessly applying pressure using Dela Rosa’s and Makajuola’s towering presence and physicality on both ends of the courts, they can tire out the Fighting Maroons’ defensive anchor. With Onoh fatigued, the defensive void will allow the Blue Eagles to fly onward and relentlessly attack the rim with ease.

If Mumar and the other Ateneo players ever consider these factors, we will likely witness AWBT’s glorious rise to the summit of the standings—a reality the whole league will simply have to brace themselves for.

This week’s games

Wednesday, October 18, at 1:00 PM, vs. University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses at the Adamson University Gymnasium

Saturday, October 21, at 3:00 PM, vs. University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons at the Adamson University Gymnasium