UAAP: NU Lady Bulldogs, UST Tigresses stay in the lead

NU Lady Bulldogs rookie Cielo Pagdulagan during a UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament game. –UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Last year’s finalists National University and the University of Santo Tomas asserted their dominance against separate foes to stay on top in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

NU dominated its way to a perfect 8-0 record, routing Ateneo, 82-62, in their second straight game in two weeks.

Rookie Cielo Pagdulagan sustained her fine form for the Lady Bulldogs with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting and tallied seven assists, six rebounds, and five steals without committing a turnover, coming off the bench to extend their winning streak against the Blue Eagles to 20 games dating back to Season 75.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

It’s a testament to how tough she is because her performance in the first round was a bit up-and-down. She’s finding the consistency we’re looking for, and I thought today was her breakout game. I’m happy that she responded well, and the numbers will show you that,” said NU coach Aris Dimaunahan.

“Those numbers speak for how dedicated she is and how open her heart and mind are to the advice given to her when she was struggling in the first round.”

Aloha Betanio was also instrumental for NU with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and four steals. May Canuto registered 11 points, four rebounds, and two assists, while Jainaba Konateh and Camille Clarin chipped in eight and seven points, respectively.

READ: UAAP: NU sweeps first round, UST 6-1 in women’s basketball

The Blue Eagles slid to a 4-4 record amid Kacey Dela Rosa’s eight-straight double-double with 22 points and 17 rebounds.

Nigerian center Sarah Makanjoula was limited to seven points on 2-of-8 shooting but had 11 rebounds. Junize Calago fouled out early in the third quarter with six points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and six turnovers.

UST Growling TIgresses in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament game. –UAAP PHOTO

Meanwhile, defending champion UST unleashed a second-half surge to take down the University of the Philippines, 84-57, for its seventh win in eight games.

Tacky Tacatac led UST’s hot shooting with 23 points, as Karylle Sierba and Kent Pastrana also powered the Growling Tigresses, tallying a 14-point lead, entering the fourth, 60-46, and never looked back to stay at solo second place.

“Coach told us in the dugout that we needed to focus on defense because our scoring was useless if we were also letting the opponent score, which is why we couldn’t pull away. Luckily, in the second half, we were able to stop UP,” said Tacatac after UST made 12 three-pointers.

Sierba delivered 15 points, all from the three-point line. Pastrana made 11 points and five rebounds. CJ Maglupay had 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Brigette Santos contributed eight points, seven assists, and six steals.

“I just told the girls that at the start of the second round we want to be better, we want to be more consistent, we want to be stronger, and the girls did it. First half was a seesaw battle from UP, sabi ko lang sa dugout tayo naman sa second half,” said UST coach Haydee Ong, whose wards scored 38 from UP’s 32 turnovers.

UP dropped to fifth place with a 3-5 record. Louna Ozar had 15 points and seven rebounds but committed seven turnovers.

The Scores:

First Game:

NU (82) – Pagdulagan 16, Betanio 11, Canuto 11, Konateh 8, Clarin 7, Villanueva 6, Pingol 5, Fabruada 4, Solis 4, Cayabyab 3, Surada 3, Ico 2, Alterado 2, Pring 0, Talas 0

Ateneo (62) – Dela Rosa 22, Makanjuola 7, Cruza 7, Calago 6, Batongbakal 6, Oani 6, Angala 5, Villacruz 2, Eufemiano 1, Nieves 0, Aquirre 0, Olivenza 0, Cancio 0, Lopez 0, Fetalvero 0.

Quarterscores: 19-14, 39-25, 64-47, 82-62.

Second Game:

UST 84 – Tacatac 23, Sierba 15, Pastrana 11, Maglupay 10, Santos 8, Ambos 6, Soriano 5, Reliquette 4, Pineda 2, Bron 0, Pescador 0, Danganan 0, Serrano 0, Lopez 0, Amatong 0.

UP 57 – Ozar 15, Pesquera 10, Bariquit 8, Sauz 6, Maw 6, Tapawan 5, Lozada 5, Mendoza 2, Jimenez 0, Barba 0, Vingno 0, Solitario 0, Nolasco 0.

Quarterscores: 22-16, 41-38, 60-46, 84-57