REIGNING MVP Kacey Dela Rosa recorded her sixth triple-double as Ateneo de Manila University secured an emphatic 90-62 victory over University of the East, earning a share of third place in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Dela Rosa delivered another impressive performance with 19 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists, helping the Blue Eagles win their second consecutive game and their fourth overall in six outings.
With this victory, Ateneo is now tied with idle Adamson University and has opened a two-game lead over University of the Philippines, which holds a 2-4 record.
Meanwhile, Nigerian student-athlete Sarah Makanjuola contributed a double-double of her own, finishing with 14 points and 17 rebounds, along with three blocks and two steals.
“We’re unapologetic and we’re an inside-out ‘Duncan-Robinson’ team [with Kacey and Sarah]. We’re really just in, in, in. Whatever the defense gives us, we’ll take it,” said Ateneo head coach LA Mumar. “We will always start from the inside; that’s not a secret. We will live and die with how we play. That’s the identity of the Ateneo women’s basketball team.”
After the first quarter ended in a 15-all tie, the Blue Eagles found their rhythm with a dominant 35-12 second quarter, establishing a 50-27 lead by halftime.
From that point forward, Ateneo never looked back, extending their advantage to a game-high 31 points in the final period, ultimately securing their fourth win in six games.
“I think we knew that these two games would be very important heading into the match against NU. We were able to execute the game plan, and I think we expect to get better as the season goes along,” Mumar added.
Calago contributed an efficient 15 points, along with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while rookie Kai Oani had the best outing of her young UAAP career with 13 points, three assists, three steals, and a plus-27 rating in 26 minutes and seven seconds of play.
Looking ahead, the Blue Eagles aim to extend their winning streak to three games when they clash with the undefeated National U side on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
In contrast, the Lady Warriors find themselves at the bottom of the standings with a 1-5 slate, alongside De La Salle and Far Eastern University.
Jearzy Ganade paced the Lady Warriors in the losing effort with 15 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals, while Malian center Kamba Kone added 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Rachel Lacayanga struggled offensively, scoring nine points on 3-of-17 shooting from the field, but still contributed 10 rebounds, four steals, and two assists in the loss.
On the other hand, the Lady Warriors aim to snap a two-game skid in their upcoming battle against the red-hot Lady Falcons on Sunday, Oct. 3, at the same Pasay venue.
The Scores:
Ateneo (90) – Dela Rosa 19, Calago 15, Makanjoula 14, Oani 13, Cancio 7, Villacruz 6, Cruza 4, Eufemanio 3, Fetalvero 3, Nieves 2, Aquirre 2, Olivenza 1, Angala 1, Batongbakal 0, Lopez 0, Salgado 0.
UE (62) – Ganade 15, Kone 10, Lacayanga 9, Ronquillo 8, Ruiz 8, Buscar 4, Cruz 4, Gomez 3, Yanes 1, Vacalares 0, Delig 0.
Quarterscores: 15-15, 50-27, 67-43, 90-62.
Games Saturday
(SM Mall of Asia Arena)
8 a.m. – FEU vs UST (JHS)
9:45 a.m. – Ateneo vs NU (JHS)
11:30 a.m. – FEU vs UST (Women)
1:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU (Women)
4:30 p.m. – FEU vs UST (Men)
6:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU (Men)
