FEU Lady Tamaraws during a UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball game. –Photo: UAAP
MANILA, Philippines — Far Eastern University turned to EJ Lopez when it mattered most to send Adamson crashing, 67-64, and open the second round of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on a high note on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lopez poured in four triples in the fourth quarter including the go-ahead trey from the top of the key to give the Lady Tamaraws a precarious 65-64 lead with 1:02 remaining.
Victoria Adeshina missed a crucial layup on a fast break with 16 seconds left as Shane Salvani extended FEU’s lead to 67-64 with two made free throws.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball
The Lady Falcons committed a crucial turnover before Joann Nagma sealed the win for the Lady Tamaraws with a steal, ending a four-game skid to improve to a 2-6 record.
Lopez, a third-year guard, scored 12 of her 17 points in the fourth with a perfect 4-of-4 three-point shooting, crediting her breakout game to coach Raiza Palmera-Dy.
FEU Lady Tamaraws’ Erica Lopez. –Photo: UAAP
“The confidence that Coach Raiza gives us is amazing. She tells us that when we’re open, to take the shot with all our heart and without any doubt,” said Lopez.
Yvette Villanueva also stepped up for the Lady Tams with 13 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks. Salvani, MJ Manguiat, and Rea Ong added eight points each.
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“I’m not surprised with the way we’re playing. I’ve seen them play every day, six times a week, and I believe they can do it. Like I’ve mentioned in the first round, kailangan lang namin mag sabay sabay na merong magandang nilalaro,” said Palmera-Dy.
Adamson, which had its best first round in 12 years, saw its two-game winning streak snapped by FEU, sliding to a 5-3 record still in third place.
Elaine Etang led the Lady Falcons with 16 points, six rebounds, and three steals, while Cheska Apag had 14 points, seven rebounds, and four steals.
Nigerian center Adeshina was limited to seven points and eight rebounds in facing the all-Filipino FEU, which lost Congolese Josee Kaputu early in the season due to a torn ACL.
La Salle beats UE
Meanwhile, La Salle routed the University of the East with a vengeful 74-46 win to kick off their second-round campaign with an improved 2-6 record.
The Lady Archers redeemed themselves from a 65-47 shocker from the Lady Warriors in the first round, ending the latter’s 40-game losing streak dating back to Season 82 in 2019.
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Tricia Mendoza led La Salle’s dominant win with 15 points, five rebounds, and two blocks as they mounted a 50-27 halftime spread and led as many as 30 points, 67-37 after a 14-0 run early in the fourth.
Bernice Paraiso was also instrumental with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and four steals, while Arabell Bacierto and Luisa San Juan added 12 points each.
“For us, we’re just looking at correcting our mistakes. Things that we did wrong, the habits we had nung first round, we just want to correct them,” said De La Salle coach Cholo Villanueva. “It’s like that in anything that you do, you make mistakes, you correct them, and then you build good habits from those.”
The victory allowed the Lady Archers to raise their record to 2-6, tying the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, who earlier stunned Adamson University, 67-64, for sixth and seventh spots.
UE slid to a 1-7 record with Moana Vacalares having 12 points. Rachel Lacayanga contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and five steals, while Kamba Kone had nine points and 10 rebounds.
The Scores:
First Game:
FEU 67 – Lopez 17, Villanueva 13, Salvani 8, Manguiat 8, Ong 8, Dela Torre 5, Nagma 4, Paras 2, Pasilang 2.
AdU 64 – Etang 16, Apag 14, Mazo 9, Padilla 7, Adeshina 7, Meniano 5, E. Alaba 2, Ornopia 2, Agojo 2, A. Alaba 0, Bajo 0, Limbago 0.
Quarterscores: 17-16, 36-33, 47-49, 67-64
Second Game:
DLSU 74 – Mendoza 15, Paraiso 13, San Juan 12, Barcierto 12, Sunga 6, Dalisay 4, Sario 4, Dela Paz 4, Rodriguez 3, Delos Reyes 1, Villava-Cua 0, Santos 0, Camba 0, Catalan 0, Salado 0
UE 46 – Vacalares 12, Lacayanga 11, Kone 9, Ronquillo 7, Ganade 5, Yanez 2, Buscar 0, Cruz 0, Ruiz 0.
Quarterscores: 24-12, 50-27, 57-37, 74-46