UP remains unbeaten in UAAP women’s basketball as NU rebounds

Louna Ozar and the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament. –UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines remained unbeaten in four games after surviving the gritty Far Eastern University, 64-61, to keep the solo UAAP Season 86 women’s basketball lead on Wednesday at Adamson University Gym.

Riding on the crest from their big win over defending champion National University last Sunday, Louna Ozar led the Fighting Maroons with 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals for an unscathed 4-0 record with an average winning margin of 13.75 points. 

“It’s expected from (Ozar),” said UP coach Paul Ramos. “I’m just continuously reminding her to just be in the moment and enjoy the experience and continue to get better with her teammates.” 

Besides Ozar, who campaigned with the Gilas Pilipinas Women in the Asian Games, UP leaned on Christie Bariquit, Favour Onoh, and Kaye Pesquera.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 basketball first round

Bariquit delivered 11 points and seven rebounds. Pesquera contributed 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Onoh had six points and 13 rebounds for the Fighting Maroons.

UP squandered a 64-50 lead after the Lady Tamaraws unleashed an 11-0 run to cut it down to just three with 1:41 remaining but it was able to make the crucial defensive stops to stay unbeaten.

“I think FEU prepared very well,” said Ramos. “We were late in our adjustments and that’s my coaching fault. I’m happy that towards the latter part of the game, we were able to collectively find a solution on some of their deployments.”

Josee Kaputu led FEU with 19 points, 17 rebounds, and three steals. Shane Salvani had eight points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Jamerin Delos Santos also scored eight and had 12 rebounds only for their team to drop to a 2-2 record. 

NU bounces back against UST

NU Lady Bulldogs’ Karl Pingol. –UAAP PHOTO

Meanwhile, NU vented its ire on the University of Santo Tomas, bouncing back with a 76-64 win to tie its victim and Ateneo to identical 3-1 records.

After the Lady Bulldogs’ first loss in  12 years, Karl Pingol led the balanced attack of the seven-time defending champion with 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals to hand UST’s first defeat in four games.

Joinaba Konateh delivered 12 points and nine rebounds. Angel Surada contributed 11 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, as Camille Clarin added 10 points, four rebounds, and four steals.

“We just told the girls to just learn from the UP game and move forward and focus our attention on UST,” NU coach Aris Dimaunahan said. “I thought we did a great job on the preparation and on the commitment of the players to do the game plan to the letter. Proud of these girls for coming back after a loss.”

Kent Pastrana led the Growling Tigresses with 18 points. Tantoy Ferrer had 17 points and six rebounds, while Tacky Tacatac had 15 points and four assists only to absorb their first loss of the season.

Last season’s Rookie of the Year Kacey Dela Rosa poured in 23 points, 18 rebounds, five steals, and five blocks to lead Ateneo to its third straight win after beating the winless University of the East, 72-62.

Junize Calago also put up a double-double for the Blue Eagles with 13 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists. Sandra Villacruz had 13 points, while Sarah Makanjuola added 10 points and six rebounds.

In the other game, La Salle finally ended its three-game skid as Lee Sario dropped 20 points to tow the winless Adamson, 63-55, and improved to a 1-3 card.

Bernice Paraiso was also instrumental with 11 points and four rebounds, while Betts Binaohan contributed 10 points, five rebounds, and three steals as last season’s runner-up barged into the win column and kept the Lady Falcons winless in four games.