UAAP women's basketball: Bulldogs earn finals berth, maul Tamaraws


At a glance

  • National University earned an outright finals spot after demolishing Far Eastern University, 86-58, to sweep the preliminary round of the UAAP Season 87 women's basketball at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City Saturday morning, Nov. 23.


National University earned an outright finals spot after demolishing Far Eastern University, 86-58, to sweep the preliminary round of the UAAP Season 87 women's basketball at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City Saturday morning, Nov. 23.

UAAP WBB - NU vs FEU - NU Team -46.jpg
NU Lady Bulldogs earn an outright finals berth after sweeping the preliminary round of the UAAP Season 87 women's basketball tournament. (UAAP Media)

The Lady Bulldogs flashed their brilliance against the Lady Tamaraws from the get-go to capture their 14th straight win and a chance redeem themselves in their 10th consecutive final appearance.

With the Bulldogs sweeping the prelims, they also forced a stepladder match between No. 3 Adamson and No. 4 Ateneo then the winner will face UST, which holds a twice-to-beat advantage in the next round.

“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 sa stage na ginugusto namin para maituloy namin yung goal namin of winning another championship,” she added.

Fourteen NU players contributed in the scoring column with Cielo Pagdulagan leading the charge with 11 points,  and Aloha Betanio and Angel Surada backstopping her with eight points each.

“Masaya kami pero not too high, not too low. Lagi kaming nireremind ng coaches na job is not done,” said Surada added.

“Thank God nasweep namin at nakabalik ulit kami sa championship. Ilang months namin hinintay ‘to simula last year pagkatalo,” she continued.

Victoria Pasilang and MJ Manguiat powered the Tamaraws with 18 and 15 points, respectively, in a losing cause as FEU concluded its season with a 3-11 win-loss tally at seventh.


 

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.

Quarterscores: 29-10, 44-30, 62-43, 86-58.