FROM START to finish, the Ateneo Blue Eagles held firm to maintain their winning form with a commanding 64-54 victory over the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors. The match took place earlier today at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
With their spot in the Final Four already previously secured, this victory improves the Blue Eagles’ record to 8-5 as they continue to prepare for high-stakes postseason competition.
Nicole Aguirre bagged Player of the Game honors after tallying 11 points on only 23 minutes of play. Alongside the rookie, the Kacey Dela Rosa and Sarah Makanjuola frontcourt duo produced for Ateneo, combining for 33 points and 31 rebounds in the contest. Team Captain Sandra Villacruz put the cherry on top with 12 markers of her own.
The Blue Eagles came out firing in the first quarter of the match, putting on an offensive clinic that situated their adversaries on the backfoot. Early drives to the rim by Dela Rosa and Makanjuola set the tone, giving Ateneo an early 5-4 lead.
The Blue and White’s defense proved just as formidable, with their dominant inside presence forcing UE to struggle with seizing their opportunities. Team Captain Sandra Villacruz further ignited the offense with key plays in the paint, providing crucial support for Ateneo’s bigs. Capitalizing on free throw opportunities, the Blue Eagles then sparked a 10-0 run, extending their lead to 14-4.
Despite their early struggles, the Lady Warriors quickly regained their composure, chipping away at the deficit and leveling the score at 19-19. However, a much-needed three-pointer from Kai Oani allowed the Blue Eagles to maintain their lead, as they closed the canto with a 22-19 advantage.
The Katipunan-based squad built off their early momentum, scoring baskets that put them up 28-19 at the start of the second frame. Ateneo’s offense was firing on all cylinders, as they converted transition opportunities and key possessions.
However, a renewed offensive surge from UE put Ateneo on the defensive, as the Lady Warriors relentlessly pressured the Blue Eagles at every turn. Capitalizing on Ateneo’s towed offensive production, UE sliced the lead to just a single possession, 26-28.
Despite the shift in momentum, Ateneo weathered the storm with strong interior plays from Dela Rosa and Aguirre giving Ateneo space to breathe, 34-26. The MVP frontrunner then capped off the half with a powerful drive, sending the Katipunan cagers into the break with their biggest lead of the game, 38-26.
While the third quarter turned out to be a low-scoring affair, both squads played the first five minutes of the frame fighting tooth and nail on both ends.
With UE imposing man-to-man defense on the Blue Eagle offense, the Lady Warriors trimmed Ateneo’s lead to single digits anew to conclude the third, 40-47. Putting more emphasis on their inside game, Ateneo reasserted dominance in the fourth quarter, upping their offensive activity in the paint and forcing UE to foul the towering Dela Rosa and Makanjuola. Out of the Blue Eagles’ 17 fourth-quarter points were the twin towers’ nine conversions out of 12 attempts from the charity stripe, which ultimately propelled the Blue and White to a 64-54 victory.
Looking to close the elimination round strong, the Blue Eagles will face fellow postseason contenders Adamson Lady Falcons at the same venue on November 23, Saturday, at 12:00 PM.
Box scores:
Ateneo (64): Dela Rosa – 19, Makanjuola 14, Villacruz – 12, Aguirre – 11, Oani – 4, Batongbakal – 2, Cancio – 2, Angala – 0, Lopez – 0, Nieves – 0, Eufemiano – 0
UE (54): Lacayanga – 21, Ganade – 12, Kone – 8, Ronquillo – 6, Dalguntas – 3, Buscar – 2, Vacalares – 2, Yanez – 0, Cruz – 0
Quarter scores:
Ateneo-UE: 22-19, 38-26, 47-40, 64-54
Current Standings (W/L)
- NU Lady Bulldogs (13-0)
- UST Growling Tigresses (10-2)
- AdU Lady Falcons (8-4)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (8-5)
- DLSU Lady Archers (4-9)
- UP Fighting Maroons (3-9)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (3-9)
- UE Lady Warriors (1-12)
