THE ATENEO Blue Eagles faced a tough challenge in their second-round opener against the undefeated National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs, 62-82. The contest took place earlier today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
This defeat puts the Blue Eagles at an even 4-4 win-loss record as they head deeper into the second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Women’s Basketball tournament.
Ateneo junior Kacey Dela Rosa amplified the team’s efforts with yet another double-double of 22 points and 17 rebounds. Sarah Makanjuola and Phia Cruza followed suit, contributing a combined total of 14 points.
The Blue Eagles kicked off the first period with an aggressive offensive surge. Rookie Kai Oani ignited an early scoring run, nailing back-to-back shots from beyond the arc, 6-0. On the defensive end, Ateneo’s pressure stifled the Lady Bulldogs which kept them scoreless for a stretch. However, NU rookie Cielo Pagdulagan’s early drives to the rim gave her team some much-needed breathing room to recalibrate, 3-6.
Missed free throws then plagued the Blue and White, stalling their momentum just as they were gaining ground. Both teams then struggled with turnovers, leading to disjointed offenses. As both camps traded blows to keep the scores close, miscues from the Blue Eagles allowed their adversaries to exploit their mistakes and pull ahead, 14-19.
The Blue and White fared worse in the second canto after getting off to a slow start. NU’s defensive blueprint suppressed Ateneo’s offensive schemes, leaving the Katipunan cagers with no clear answers. As back-to-back fastbreak points from the Lady Bulldogs gave them a comfortable lead, the Blue Eagles were left to face an extended scoring drought halfway through the quarter, 20-35.
Adding to Ateneo’s struggles, NU’s impenetrable defense was effective in holding Dela Rosa scoreless. Meanwhile, Pagdulagan continued to fan the flames, punishing the Blue Eagles with an offensive lockdown. Although a last-minute strike from Seng Calago sought to shift the momentum, the Katipunan-based squad found themselves scrambling to overcome their 14-point deficit at the end of the first half, 25-39.
Looking to cut down NU’s lead in the early moments of the third, Dela Rosa led the charge with two buckets and an assist to Makanjuola, 34-45. However, Ateneo’s lack of discipline on the defensive end allowed NU to convert on multiple and-one opportunities and sink open threes, putting the Blue Eagles at a 22-point disadvantage midway through the third, 34-56.
Ateneo’s dismal frame would continue as Calago fouled out of the contest after only 15 minutes of play, leaving the Blue Eagles without their floor general for the final stretch of the contest. This blow, combined with offensive outbursts from NU’s Aloha Betanio and Marga Villanueva, saw the Blue and White enter the final canto down 17, 47-64.
The final frame of the contest proved to be much of the same for Ateneo, as the flustered Blue Eagles gave up multiple turnovers and easy drives to the Lady Bulldogs, eventually falling in a 20-point blowout, 62-82.
Evident throughout their fourth loss, Ateneo’s biggest downfall was in the turnover statistic. The Blue Eagles gave up 26 turnovers to the Lady Bulldogs’ 16, showing the contrasting offensive performances of both squads.
The Blue Eagles aim to capture their fifth win of Season 87 when they face the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses this Saturday, October 19, 10:00 AM, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in the City of Manila.
Box scores:
Ateneo (62): Dela Rosa – 22, Makanjuola – 7, Cruza – 7, Calago – 6, Oani – 6, Batongbakal – 6, Angala – 5, Villacruz – 2, Eufemiano – 1, Nieves – 0, Aquirre – 0, Olivenza – 0, Cancio – 0, Lopez – 0, Fetalvero – 0
NU (82): Pagdulagan – 16, Betanio – 11, Canuto – 11, Konateh – 8, Clarin – 7, Villanueva – 6, Pingol – 5, Fabruada – 4, Cayabyab – 3, Solis – 3, Surada – 3 Ico – 2, Alterado – 2, Pring – 0, Talas – 0
Quarter scores:
Ateneo-NU: 14-19, 25-39, 47-64, 62-82
Current Standings (W-L):
- NU Lady Bulldogs (8-0)
- UST Growling Tigresses (6-1)
- AdU Lady Falcons (5-3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (4-4)
- UP Fighting Maroons (3-4)
- DLSU Lady Archers (2-6)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (2-6)
- UE Lady Warriors (1-7)
