University of the Philippines ended a two-game losing streak with a come-from-behind 66-62 victory over De La Salle University, closing the first round of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Fighting Maroons wrapped up the first round with a 3-4 record, just one game behind the Ateneo Blue Eagles, who currently hold fourth place at 4-3.
“I’m just really so happy we won in the last game of our first round. We lost two consecutive games before this so we badly needed this entering the second round. I’m really proud of the girls that we held on and fought back from a huge deficit,” said UP head coach Paul Ramos.
The Fighting Maroons sealed the win when Christie Bariquit iced the game with two more free throws with just 9.1 seconds remaining, snapping their losing streak and notching their third win of the season.
With the loss, La Salle finished the first round with a 1-6 record, tied for last place with FEU and UE in the eight-team league.
Meanwhile, Adamson University breezed past University of the East, 63-51, securing solo third place to close its first round campaign.
The Lady Falcons continued their impressive Season 87 campaign, finishing the first round with a 5-2 record, surpassing their win total from last season, where they managed only four victories across 14 games.
This marks their best start in 12 years, replicating the 5-2 start they achieved in Season 75 back in 2012. That year, Adamson finished in third place after losing to La Salle in the stepladder semifinals on October 3, 2012.
“I’m very happy with how the first round went for us. It’s all about the effort of the players. Kami naman, we’ll just guide them,” said Lady Falcons head coach Ryan Monteclaro, who was a player in 2012 when the women’s team had its finest first round showing.
