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

NU rookie Cielo Pagdulagan against Ateneo in UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Last year’s finalists National University and University of Santo Tomas completed a dominant first round after beating separate foes in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Runner-up NU finished a perfect 7-0 record in the first round after overcoming a hard-fighting Kacey Dela Rosa-led Ateneo, 66-58.

Despite the sweep, the Lady Bulldogs had to overcome Dela Rosa’s seventh double-double, which powered the Blue Eagles’ gallant stand. The reigning UAAP MVP sank a long two to cut NU’s lead to two, 51-49, with 6:58 to go.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

NU coach Aris Dimaunahan, Cielo Pagdulagan, and Tin Cayabyab after a 7-0 first round. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/g1ddyIeMDc

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 5, 2024

However, Pringle Fabruada stopped the bleeding for NU with six straight points, 57-49, before Camille Clarin, Angel Surada, and Ann Pingol sealed the win

“For the first three quarters, all of us were not locked in on what we’re supposed to do. Just glad that during the fourth quarter, we got our bearings back and we stayed with the game plan on how to stop Ateneo,” said NU coach Aris Dimaunahan, whose team averaged a winning margin of 16.85 points.

Rookie Cielo Pagdulagan led another balanced attack of NU with 12 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Tine Cayabyab backstopped her with 11 points and five rebounds.

READ: UAAP: NU goes 6-0, Adamson downs UP in women’s basketball

“Sobrang happy kasi ang goal po talaga namin is matapos ‘yung first round na ito na nasa top pa rin po kami. Siguro kailangan lang namin imaintain yung effort, yung communication sa loob ng court, and yung energy namin kung paano kami naglaro this first round,” said Pagdulagan, a product of National University Nazareth School.

Pingol and Surada were also instrumental with 10 points each, while Fabruada and Aloha Betanio added eight and seven points, respectively.

The Blue Eagles remained fourth with a 4-3 record despite Dela Rosa’s 21 points highlighted by two triples on and tallied 13 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals.

Junize Calago had 12 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and five steals, while Sarah Makanjuola added nine points, 17 rebounds, and four blocks.

UST Tigresses’ Kent Pastrana.–UAAP PHOTO

Meanwhile, Kent Pastrana and Brigette Santos put on the finishing touches to lead defending champion UST past Far Eastern University, 66-57, and finish the first round with six wins in seven matches.

The Growling Tigresses squandered a 56-43 lead early in the fourth as the Lady Tamaraws scored 10 unanswered points from  Shane Salvani, Joann Nagma, and Maxene Dela Torre to turn it into a three-point game, 56-53, with 3:37 left.

Pastrana and Santos restored the order for UST as they connived for a 7-0 run to bring it back to a 10-point advantage, 63-53, and keep FEU at bay in the final minute. 

READ: UAAP: UST, Ateneo score blowouts in women’s basketball

FINAL: UST ends the first round with a 6-1 record after beating FEU (1-6), 66-57, in the #UAAPSeason87 women’s basketball. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/cccwuSJcH0

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 5, 2024

“With regards to our record, I told the girls this would be our last game in the first round so this should be a momentum-builder for the next round. Unfortunately, they didn’t play what we expected them to play,” said UST coach Haydee Ong, who faced her former national team player-turned-FEU coach Raiza Palmera=Dy.

“A win is a win. Our constant players like Kent always perform so we need more players to show up and help Kent for our succeeding games.”

Pastrana had another double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds to go with two steals and two blocks but she committed seven turnovers. Santos scored all of her seven points in the fourth, while Tacky Tacatac had nine points 

Forward CJ Maglupay delivered five points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks to send FEU to its fourth straight defeat and a 1-6 record.

Shane Salvani, who made her return after serving a one-game suspension, carried FEU with 16 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists but had eight turnovers and shot a dismal 6-of-26 from the field, while MJ Manguiat added 11 points.

The Scores:

First Game:

UST 66 – Pastrana 22, Tacatac 9, Santos 7, Sierba 7, Bron 7, Maglupay 5, Soriano 4, Reliquette 3, Danganan 2, Pescador 0, Dionisio 0.

FEU 57 – Salvani 16, Manguiat 11, Nagma 8, Ong 6, Dela Torre 6, Villanueva 4, Paras 4, Libor 2, Lopez 0, Pasilang 0.

Quarterscores: 20-9, 37-24, 48-43, 66-57.

Second Game:

NU 66 – Pagdulagan 12, Cayabyab 11, Pingol 10, Surada 10, Fabruada 8, Betanio 7, Clarin 4, Konateh 2, Solis 2, Canuto 0, Ico 0, Pring 0, Medina 0.

Ateneo 58 – Dela Rosa 21, Calago 12, Makanjoula 9, Aquirre 5, Oani 4, Villacruz 3, Cancio 2, Batongbakal 2, Angala 0, Cruza 0, Nieves 0.

Quarterscores: 18-13, 28-26, 47-44, 66-58