Lady Tams snatch Game 1 vs. Lady Maroons
By Merck Maguddayao
The Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws barely escaped the last quarter onslaught of third-seeded University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons, 54-52, in a pulsating Game One in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines women’s basketball Finals in the San Juan Arena today.
Up by ten points at the start of the fourth quarter, the league-leading Lady Tamaraws got spared from an upset as the Lady Maroons failed to convert crucial free throws and potential game-winning shots in a number of instances.
“We really had bad breaks sa fourth quarter kasi sablay ang mga free throws namin at hindi na-sustain yung opensa namin. Buti na lang, we held on with our tough team defense kaya kahit paano na-contain namin ang UP,” said Lady Tamaraws head coach Michael Oliver after the game.
Lady Tamaraw shooter Bernadette Mercado tallied 13 points, three assists, and three steals to lead a balanced FEU attack while Lady Maroon captain Sihaya Sadorra led UP’s charge with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Fresh from grueling Final Four matches, both teams scored sparingly in the opening canto. However, the Lady Tamaraws’ shooting began to click later in the quarter as guards Love Miag-ao and Marilou Borja converted seven perimeter points to clinch an early 13-6 lead for FEU.
In the second quarter, the Lady Tamaraws continued their consistency in offense as Miag-ao collaborated with Mercado for nine points to keep the Lady Maroons at bay, 26-15, to end the first half.
Down by a huge margin, the Lady Maroons found life in the third quarter with Sadorra exploding for 13 points off hustle plays as UP contracted the lead to four points in a few occasions. However, a buzzer-beating three-point shot from Marilou Borja put the momentum back as the Lady Tamaraws closed the quarter leading, 41-34.
An early trey from Mercado and an acrobatic reverse lay-up from forward Chovi Borja propelled the Lady Tamaraws to a double-digit cushion in the payoff period. Undaunted, the Lady Maroons fought back as Sadorra, Fatima Tolentino, and Danielle Bautista attacked the basket to cut the lead to five, 54-49.
In the last two minutes, both teams missed several penalty shots and played erratic offense as the Lady Tamaraws seemed to take the win home. However, a surprise three-point shot from Lady Maroon point guard Camille Tomelden cut the lead to two, 54-52, with 19 seconds left.
Off four missed free throws from the Lady Tamaraws and a chance for the win, Lady Maroon guard Jedil Robelo threw an airball from the three-point line as UP suffered its third defeat from FEU this season.
This season’s Finals duel is a match-up of runner-ups, with the Lady Tamaraws and the Lady Maroons bagging the silver trophy in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Game Two is set on September 24 at the San Juan Arena starting at 1 pm.
FEU (54) - Mercado 13, Miag-ao 8, C. Borja 6, Rivera 6, M. Borja, Positos 5, Reyes 4, Palmera 4, Sernal 2, Leviste 0, Supnet 0
UP (52) - Sadorra 17, Tolentino 16, Tomelden 7, D. Bautista 4, Cainglet 3, Paz 2, Casino 2, Robelo 0, Del Rosario 0, M. Bautista 0
Quarter scoring: 15-6, 26-15, 41-34, 54-52