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The NU Lady Bulldogs complete a 14-game sweep of the elimination round to jump straight to the finals, leaving the other semifinalists to fight for the last UAAP women’s basketball title berth
MANILA, Philippines – They’re definitely back to reclaim their crown.
National University completed a 14-game sweep of the elimination round to claim an outright UAAP finals berth after the Lady Bulldogs cruised past the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 86-58, in the Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Saturday, November 23, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
“The goal is to have the opportunity to go back to the finals, and with this win, we finally got it. But the work doesn’t stop there,” said NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan.
“It just gave us the opportunity to be there in that stage that we want, so we can continue our goal of winning another championship.”
It will be the 10th consecutive finals appearance of the Lady Bulldogs, who in that span, settled for a runner-up finish only twice – versus the La Salle Lady Archers in 2013 and against the UST Growling Tigresses last year.
NU’s elimination sweep also leaves the rest of the semifinalists to slug it out for the last finals berth in stepladder format.
Rookie Cielo Pagdulagan continued her impressive play in the Lady Bulldogs’ final elimination assignment, finishing with 11 points.
Jill Talas scored 9 in the Lady Bulldogs’ lopsided victory, Aloha Betanio and Angel Surada also added 8 points each, while Daniella Alterado, Pringle Fabruada, Jainaba Konateh, and Nicole Pring had 7.
“The coaches always remind us that the job is not done,” Surada said in Filipino. “We’ve been waiting for this for months since we lost last year (in the finals).”
Victoria Pasilang topscored for FEU with 18 points and 5 rebounds, while MJ Manguiat put up 15 points to wrap up their season.
NU will have a long break before the best-of-three finals series as they await for the winner among UST (12-2), which totes a twice-to-beat advantage, Adamson (8-5), and Ateneo (8-5).
The Scores
NU 86 – Pagdulagan 11, Talas 9, Betanio 8, Surada 8, Alterado 7, Fabruada 7, Konateh 7, Pring 7, Pingol 6, Clarin 5, Sois 3, Villanueva 3, Ico 3, Canuto 2.
FEU 58 – Pasilang 18, Manguiat 15, Salvani 8, Nagma 6, Villanueva 5, Ong 4, Gavaran 2, Lopez 0, Paras 0, Dela Torre 0.
Quarters: 29-10, 44-30, 62-43, 86-58.
– Rappler.com
