Lady Maroons re-enter Finals
By Merck Maguddayao
Defense is the best offense.
The University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons lived with this adage by repulsing the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses, 50-46, in the last game of the University Athletics Association (UAAP) women’s basketball tourney Final Four today at the San Juan Arena.
Down by as much as seven in the opening quarter, the Lady Maroons fought neck-and-neck through sheer hustle and team defense, limiting the Tigresses to a six point output in the last period.
“We played tough team defense by caging (UST guard Marichu) Bacaro. We really have to stop her scoring, otherwise, di kami mananalo rito,” said a jubilant Lady Maroons Head Coach Eric Castro. The Lady Maroons is now on their second Finals appearance in as many years.
The game started slowly for the Lady Maroons as Bacaro instantly scored six points. UST finished the quarter leading, 8-15.
In the succeeding canto, the pair of Danielle Bautista and Fatima Tolentino started scoring from inside and out to trim the lead to one, 14-15. The Tigresses fought back and put the lead to five as reserve center Paula Bombeo scored six quick points off inside dumps. However, Lady Maroon center Fatima Tolentino neutralized Bombeo’s blitz by scoring six unanswered points to keep UP within striking distance, 24-26.
In the second half, both teams traded baskets with the Tigresses draining treys and the Lady Maroons scoring from the post. UP took the lead in the middle of the quarter with guard Andrea Stevens scoring five straight points. Bacaro, meanwhile, replied with six points off dribble drives to tie the count at 40 leading to the deciding period.
With both seasons on the line, the two squads played intense defense but the Lady Maroons played better offense with forward Sihaya Sadorra and Bautista scoring six and three points respectively.
Unfazed, the Tigresses retaliated with guard Nikki Leonardo and Bacaro scoring two treys. However, both players committed two costly fouls in the last stretch with the former tagged with a flagrant foul and the latter getting fouled out of the game, which eventually dumped UST’s campaign for good.
Tolentino displayed her interior domination with 17 points and 18 rebounds while Sadorra contributed 16 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks to lead the Lady Maroons. Bacaro, on the other hand, finished her UAAP career with 18 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists for the Tigresses.
The Lady Maroons will next face the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in a best-of-three Finals affair to be played on Saturday, September 20, at the San Juan Arena at one o’clock.
UP (50) – Tolentino 17, Sadorra 16, D. Bautista 6, Stevens 5, Paz 4, M. Bautista 1, Tomelden 1, Cainglet 0, Del Rosario 0, Casino 0, Robelo 0
UST (46) – Bacaro 18, Buenacosa 9, Leonardo 7, Bombeo 6, Gregorio 5, Laud 1, Fermin 0, Obrador 0
Quarter scores: 8-15, 24-26, 40-40, 50-46