SOARING ABOVE their fourth-place ceiling in the previous years, the Ateneo Blue Eagles nabbed a convincing victory against the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons, 66-56, to secure their first podium finish in a decade. This University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Final Four stepladder opener was held earlier today, November 30, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in the City of Pasay.

Keeping their championship hopes alive, Ateneo moves ahead in the stepladder tournament to face the reigning champion National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs.

Superstar forward Kacey Dela Rosa steered the Blue Eagles to victory with 17 points on an efficient 72.7% from the field, 20 rebounds, and two blocks. Supplementing their teammate, Kai Oani and Player of the Game Camille Malagar contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively. Moreover, Sarah Makanjuola dominated the defensive side of the ball, snagging 16 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks along with her nine points.

Dela Rosa and Sandra Villacruz opened the scoring account for the Blue Eagles, with both teams trading baskets in the opening minutes, 4-4. Despite an Elaine Etang three ball, Oani answered back on the other end, nailing a three-pointer in response, 7-7.

The Blue Eagles then went on a 7-0 blitz through a Hannah Lopez three-pointer, a Dela Rosa layup, and an Oani mid-range bucket, forcing an Adamson timeout, 14-7. In the first quarter’s closing minutes, both teams continued to trade attempts with Ateneo securing a slim advantage, 20-14.

Opening the second quarter, the Blue Eagles were quickly tested early as the Lady Falcons amped up the pressure, forcing turnovers and stifling Ateneo’s offense, 22-19. To this, Kate Cancio and Dela Rosa answered back with a pair of baskets, maintaining the small advantage, 26-21.

However, the Blue and White were unable to maintain the advantage as they gave up ten unanswered points to a fiery Adamson offense, forcing an Ateneo timeout, 26-31.

Eager to regain the lead heading into halftime, Dela Rosa battled inside on the glass for a gritty and-one layup through contact, 29-31. As the momentum swung towards the Blue Eagles, Oani converted yet another big three-pointer, recapturing the lead for her squad as they headed into the break, 32-31.

After the halftime break, the Blue Eagles’ offense stumbled to start the third quarter, piling up wasted possessions that ended in turnovers. The Katipunan-based team’s defense suffered in turn, surrendering consecutive fastbreak opportunities, 32-35. Coming off a silent half, Malagar knocked down her first triple of the game, putting the game at a 35-all deadlock. This bucket would kickstart an offensive avalanche for Ateneo, led by Malagar, Makanjuola, and Oani, as the trio conducted a 10-0 run to recover the lead, 42-35.

With Adamson draining back-to-back inside baskets to stop Ateneo’s momentum, Malagar calmly downed another fastbreak jumper to maintain the lead, 44-39. The Blue Eagles went on another unanswered 6-0 run built on charity stripe conversions, 50-39. However, Ateneo’s defense felt the wear and tear of the quarter as they allowed wide-open jumpers from Etang and Cheska Apag, 51-45. Ending the third frame, Dela Rosa and Etang exchanged tough jumpers with Ateneo maintaining the advantage, 54-48.

Inching nearer to securing their first podium finish in a decade, the Blue Eagles’ defense shone through game-changing stops, powering a dominant 11-0 sprint. On the offensive end, Dela Rosa began the scoring by finding her footing on the elbow and knocking down the contested jumper, 56-48. Cancio piled on her team’s offensive rhythm, putting her defender in the spin cycle to get the tough layup, 58-48. Multiple possessions anchored by Makanjuola’s rebounding kept the Blue and White in control as they continued their hot streak.

Malagar and Oani added on to the scoring effort with decisive rim-running attempts, 65-48. With four minutes remaining, Ateneo lost the ball on consecutive plays, surrendering a 6-0 run to Adamson, 66-54. In a pivotal possession, the Blue Eagles battled the Lady Falcons on the board, as the Blue and White showcased their defensive array, fighting through screens and box-outs to keep the ball in their court.

In the closing minutes of the game, both teams underwent offensive droughts as the scoreboard stood still at 66-54 in Ateneo’s favor. Despite another fastbreak basket from Adamson, the Blue Eagles closed out the Lady Falcons in convincing fashion, 66-56.

With their victory over the Lady Falcons, the Blue Eagles now stand one win away from the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Finals. Ateneo will face another familiar foe in the NU Lady Bulldogs in the do-or-die stepladder semifinals on Wednesday, December 3, at 10:30 AM in the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Box Scores:

Ateneo (66): Dela Rosa – 17, Oani – 13, Malagar – 12, Makanjoula – 9, Cancio – 7, Lopez – 3, Villacruz – 2, De Luna – 2, Batongbakal – 1

AdU (56): Etang – 18, Adeshina – 10, Apag – 9, Limbago – 5, Ornopia -4, Bajo – 3, Padilla – 3, Meniano – 2, Alaba – 2

Quarter scores:

Ateneo-AdU: 20-14, 32-31, 54-48, 66-56