THE ATENEO Blue Eagles outlasted the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 16-14, in the Battle for Third to cap off the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Women’s 3×3 Basketball Tournament on the podium. The semifinals and bronze medal match were held earlier today, May 3, at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in the City of Parañaque.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Blue and White succumbed to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, 16-21, in the Final Four, ending their repeat bid.

Season 87 3×3 Most Valuable Player Kacey Dela Rosa led the Blue Eagles offensively in both games, notching 12 points against Adamson and 11 against FEU.

Final Four vs. FEU

Aiming to go back into the finals, the second-seeded Blue Eagles faced the third-seeded Lady Tamaraws, whom they dispatched yesterday, May 2, to close out the elimination rounds.

Ateneo imposed its pace early, as Hannah Lopez opened with a midrange jumper to put her team on the board, 1-0. Dela Rosa and Kai Oani followed with interior finishes, pushing the Blue Eagles to a quick 5-0 start in the semifinal encounter.

However, FEU gradually found its rhythm behind Victoria Pasilang’s basket and Amyah Espanol’s free throw to cut the deficit to 5-3. Ateneo then answered with renewed composure, as Dela Rosa and Oani led a 3-0 burst to extend the lead to 8-4.

Despite sending the Lady Tamaraws into the penalty before the five-minute mark, the Blue Eagles yielded a 5-1 run, allowing FEU’s Espanol and Patio to tie the game at 9-9. The Loyola Heights-based squad then responded through Dela Rosa and Erica De Luna, who converted on quick interior baskets to regain an 11-9 edge.

The Lady Tamaraws then responded by upping their defensive activity, allowing themselves to break through with a 6-1 surge and pushing the Blue Eagles to a 12-15 deficit.

Dela Rosa kept Ateneo within reach with four straight points, trimming the gap to 16-18, but FEU held firm via three Espanol free throws, 16-21, relegating Ateneo to the third-place game.

Battle for Third vs. AdU

Reeling from the loss, the Blue Eagles were deadset on redeeming themselves and walking away with hardware.

Dela Rosa continued her dominance from the onset of the match, tallying all of Ateneo’s first markers, 3-1. However, Elaine Etang quickly responded with a deuce to tie up the game at 3-3. The Blue Eagles then found themselves down momentarily after a bucket from Francine Meniano, 3-4.

Despite the early setback, the Blue Eagles continued to push forward, regaining the lead after a Dela Rosa freebie and a shot by Oani, 5-4, until Etang evened the game once more, 5-5. This back-and-forth affair continued throughout the midway point, until Ateneo took their biggest lead thus far off an Oani-Dela Rosa pick and fade, 12-9.

The Blue Eagles kept their three-point advantage with Dela Rosa manning the fort despite Etang heating up for Adamson, capitalized by a tough turnaround fader by the Ateneo big, 15-12. Even with a late fightback from the Lady Falcons, the Blue Eagles held on with time expiring on the game clock as they clinched their bronze finish, 16-14.

Following their stint on the halfcourt, the Blue and White received much-awaited confirmation regarding their star big. With the Blue Eagles now set towards translating their success onto the five-on-five tilt, Dela Rosa officially announced that she would return for her final playing year in hopes of bringing home a championship for Ateneo.

“Yeah, I think tatapusin ko ‘yung last playing year ko sa UAAP, at sana makuha namin ‘yung championship [next season],” she shared following the match.

(Yeah, I think I’ll exhaust my last playing year in the UAAP, and I hope we can get the championship [next season].)

In her decision to return, Dela Rosa cited the team dynamics and her wish to exit the college ranks as a champion for Ateneo.

Additionally, following the conclusion of their 3×3 campaign, the Atenean quintet now have the rare distinction of being bronze medalists in two events in the same season, after their third-place finish in five-on-five action earlier this season.

Box scores:

Final Four

Ateneo (16): Dela Rosa – 11, De Luna – 2, Oani – 2, Lopez – 1

FEU (21): Espanol – 9, Pasilang – 8, De La Torre – 2, Patio – 2

Battle for Third

Ateneo (16): Dela Rosa – 12, Oani – 2, De Luna – 2, Lopez – 2

AdU (14): Etang – 8, Meniano – 4, Apag – 2, Manlimos – 0