Games Sunday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
8 a.m. – UST vs DLSZ (JHS)
9:45 a.m. – FEU-D vs Ateneo (JHS)
11:30 a.m. – UST vs DLSU (Women)
1:30 p.m. – FEU vs Ateneo (Women)
4:30 p.m. – UST vs DLSU (Men)
6:30 p.m. – FEU vs Ateneo (Men)
National University brought University of the East back down from its recent high with a dominant 67-39 victory, maintaining its unbeaten run in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
With their sixth straight victory, the Lady Bulldogs did not only move on the cusp of completing a first round sweep, but also extending their winning streak over the Lady Warriors to 27 games. UE was coming came off a historic victory over La Salle that broke a 40-game skid.
The Lady Warriors, who fell to a three-way tie for last place alongside La Salle and FEU with respective 1-4 cards, last won over NU when it completed an elimination sweep of the Lady Bulldogs in UAAP Season 71 (2008).
Coincidentally, the last time a team scored under 40 points was in a battle against the same teams, where NU dealt UE a 61-point beating, 92-31, last Nov. 13, 2022 in Season 85.
“Every game, ang gusto namin is to give exposure as much as possible to every player that we have because they are working hard daily sa practice and their minutes would matter kung gaano kagaling naman yung ilalaro nila sa actual game,” said Lady Bulldogs head coach Aris Dimaunahan.
“We got balanced minutes today, and yes, we got our sixth win, but that’s the goal for today after the final buzzer, we want to stay on top,” he added.
The Lady Warriors striked first in the scoring department, but NU’s championship pedigree and depth allowed them to control the show from that point forward.
Two free throws and a layup by Pringle Fabruada saw the Lady Bulldogs take a game-high 33-point lead, 62-29, with less than 3 minutes and 30 seconds left in the payoff period.
“As a team, problema talaga namin yung turnovers, pero diyan kami matututo. Pinakita namin this game na hindi lang isang player nagdadala, kundi lahat kami nagaambag,” Fabruada shared.
Every Lady Bulldog scored at least a point aside from Gheralyn Ico, who went scoreless in 11 minutes of action.
Fabruada led NU’s dominant win with 11 points and three rebounds, while former NUNS standout Nicole Pring had her best outing of the season with 10 points, two assists, and one steal.
Seniors Camille Clarin and Angel Surada also contributed significantly with the former posting nine points, five rebounds, and five assists and the latter recording seven points, 12 rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.
The Lady Bulldogs look to sweep the first round when they face Ateneo de Manila University next Saturday, Oct. 5, at the same Pasay venue.
Rachel Lacayanga paced UE in the losing effort with game-highs of 18 points and seven steals, while Malienne import Kamba Kone chipped in seven points and 11 rebounds.
The Lady Warriors aim to rebound when it clashes against the Blue Eagles on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
