Ateneo’s Kacey Dela Rosa shoots against UP in the UAAP Season 85 women’s basketball tournament. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo leaned on the dynamic duo of Kacey Dela Rosa and Jhazmin Joson to stop a three-game skid with a 67-61 victory over University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 85 women’s basketball tournament on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Rookie Dela Rosa tallied a monstrous performance with 30 points, 20 rebounds, and seven blocks, while Joson delivered a triple-double of 11 points, 11 boards, and 10 assists — the women’s first league triple-double since Ria Nabalan of National University last October 18, 2017.
Dela Rosa, a Chiang Kai Shek High School product, ignited the Blue Eagles’ 11-5 run in the fourth quarter scoring nine in their 11-5 run for a nine-point advantage, 64-55, with 1:07 remaining.
However, UP’s Christie Bariquit scored four straight points to trim the deficit to five, 64-59, with 37.1 seconds left. But Dela Rosa and Joson also sealed the match at the free throw line after UP’s Christie Bariquit pulled her team within five, 64-59, with 37.1 seconds left.
“We really expect a lot from Shaq and Kobe. That’s what I call them but they really, they’re really skilled and talented and they have the desire,” said Ateneo coach LA Mumar on Dela Rosa and Joson after his squad tied Adamson in fourth place with a 2-3 record.
“I think they’re such a deadly 1-2 combo. It gives us a chance every game to win. So, we just have to play together. Although we’re not a 1-2 team, these two are really talented.”
Mumar also praised his other wards like Sandra Villacruz, who posted 12 points and 10 rebounds, as well as LJ Miranda, Junize Calago, and Dyna Nieva.
“But also wanna commend our other players, a lot of the teams, they are able to do what they do when the other girls, like Villacruz, Villarin, Calago, Nieves, all of these other girls, Miranda, when they do their stuff, it allows these two to do their stuff,” he said as Ateneo faces Adamson next on Wednesday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Dela Rosa surpassed several season-highs, including the 29-point effort of Adamson’s Dindy Medina against University of Santo Tomas last October 1, the 19 rebounds of La Salle’s Fina Niantcho and University of the East’s Kamba Kone last October 5 and beat her own previous season-high of six blocks against FEU last October 1.
UP banked on Kaye Pesquera’s 16 points and Bariquit’s double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Tacky Tacatac poured 27 points to go with four rebounds, and three steals as UST annihilated UE, 107-44.
“We had a very slow start in the first quarter and I just told the girls they played a bit tight. Our defense in the second quarter started our run, making it hard for UE,” said Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong, whose team improved to 4-1 tied with La Salle in the second seed.
Eka Soriano also delivered an all-around game for UST with 20 points, eight assists, eight steals, and seven rebounds. Brigette Santos chipped in 12 points, nine dimes, and six steals, while Rachel Ambos and Nikki Villasin added 12 and 11 points.
The Tigresses forced 50 turnovers, scoring 51 points off those miscues with 11 turnovers each from Pauline Anastacio and Joyce Terrinal.
UE, which remained winless in five games, drew eight points each from Anastacio, Kane, Althea Lorena, and Claire Sajol.
UST battles Far Eastern University, while UE and UP clash on Wednesday.
The Scores:
First Game:
UST 107 — Tacatac 27, Soriano 20, Santos 12, Ambos 12, Villasin 11, Danganan 9, Bron 6, Serrano 4, Araza 3, Villapando 3, Dionisio 0.
UE 44 — Anastacio 8, Lorena 8, Sajol 8, Kone 8, Terrinal 6, Silva 2, Gervacio 2, Caraig 2, De Leon 0, Paule 0, Zamudio 0, Nama 0.
Quarterscores: 18-15, 52-26, 74-33, 107-44.
Second Game:
Ateneo 67 – Dela Rosa 30, Villacruz 12, Joson 11, Calago 6, Miranda 4, Nieves 4, Eufemiano 0, Cruza 0.
UP 61 – Pesquera 16, Bariquit 13, Lozada 9, Tapawan 8, Sanchez 5, Vingno 4, Domingo 2, Maw 2, Jimenez 2, Sauz 0, Rivera 0, Larrosa 0, Gonzales 0.
Quarterscores: 20-22, 35-39, 53-50, 67-61.