National University moved a win away from another elimination-round sweep with a 76-59 drubbing of Ateneo in UAAP season 82 women’s basketball tournament Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate their win against the Adamson Lady Falcons during their second round match in UAAP Season 82 women’s basketball (UAAP Images)
After a slow start, the Lady Bulldogs gathered steam in the middle quarters that saw them limit the Lady Eagles to just 23 points to break the game wide open.
Kelli Hayes and Angel Surada led the charge as they turned a two-point lead in the first quarter to a 58-41 spread with 10 minutes to spare in the game — a lead they padded to as many as 21 in the fourth period on the way to their 13th straight win and 93rd since July 13, 2014.
“I’m just happy na we can accomplish the feat again of having six straight 14-0s. It’s an accumulation of all the hard work that the girls have been doing. They deserve it, so now we have to be ready for the next steps,” National University head coach Pat Aquino said.
The win was a big one for the Lady Bulldogs after surviving a huge scare from University of Santo Tomas last Wednesday, where they escaped with a 74-70 win.
Surada finished with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds as Hayes and Rhena Itesi also chipped in 10 apiece.
Jack Animam filled the stats sheet with eight points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Lady Bulldogs who will target a return trip to the finals when they take on the struggling UE Lady Warriors on October 30.