By Joshua Kyle Beltran
Lady Tamaraw Amyah Espanol tallied six consecutive points in the final minute to lift Far Eastern University (FEU) to a win, 85-81, startling the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 women’s basketball tourney earlier today, October 31, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Stuck at a one-possession game at the 79-77 mark, Espanol harnessed her clutch genes built on back-to-back drives to the basket, one free throw, and another field goal.
With her heroics paying off, the Gilas silver medalist boosted the team with 27 markers, four boards, and two steals.
In the post-game conference, green-and-gold head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy emphasized how she fully entrusted the endgame play to Espanol.
“I want the ball in her hands. So basically that’s it. She embraced the role, and luckily, she had a good read on the last play, and it was a good read against the experienced player[s],” she said.
Meanwhile, Espanol attributed the confidence boost to her fellow Lady Tamaraws.
“It’s my teammates really encouraging me, even if I’ve been in kind of a slump offensively… It really helps when I can just go out there and play and not worry about anything,” she shared.
Opening the game with excellent perimeter defense, it was not long until Espanol and Shane Salvani combined for an 8-0 burst to lead by six, 17-11.
However, NU answered with an 8-2 run, leading to a 19-19 stalemate with 25 seconds left. Despite a Bulldog free throw, Maxene Dela Torre regained the lead with two of her own, 21-20.
Espanol wasted no time to open the second frame with a trey while also earning two trips to the charity stripe, 26-20.
After effective defensive stops and aggressive presses, Espanol heated up from beyond the arc once again, extending the gap by as large as 13, 48-35.
The Lady Tamaraws struggled to convert late down the stretch, but still maintained a nine-point lead, 50-41.
Until the latter half of the third canto, the Morayta cagebelles kept their lead at double-digits, 59-49.
However, foul trouble quickly plagued FEU as the Jhocson cagebelles trailed by two in the dying seconds, 65-63.
As their shots beyond the arc failed to connect, pressure immediately set in for the Lady Tamaraws as they only scored four in the opening half of the last quarter, 69-75.
With four minutes and 30 seconds left in regulation, the green-and-gold team snapped back to reality with a 10-2 burst, 79-77. This was followed by Espanol’s final play to wrap up the dub, 85-81.
Salvani trailed closely in scoring with 19 markers, seven dimes, and three steals. Meanwhile, EJ Lopez put up 11 points with four-of-six shooting from the field.
Currently holding solo fourth with a 5-4 win-loss sheet, FEU looks to continue their hot run against University of the East on Wednesday, November 4, at the same venue.
(Photo courtesy of the UAAP Media Team)