By Gabrielle Amber Bellosillo
Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws failed to secure a back-to-back win despite a late-game rally against Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 women’s basketball tournament earlier tonight, October 28, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
After Adamson drew first blood in the opening minute, guard Victoria Pasilang quickly answered for FEU, driving inside to level the score at 2-all.
The Lady Tamaraws briefly gained control before the Lady Falcons answered with a triple to restore the stalemate, 7-7.
Pasilang kept the green-and-gold squad within striking distance, knocking down three triples to fuel the team’s offense, 16-15. However, the Lady Tamaraws failed to hold on, ending the first frame down,17-23.
Entering the second quarter, the Morayta-based squad chipped away at the Lady Falcons’ lead as Pasilang drew back-to-back shooting fouls and sank all four free throws, 23-27.
Lady cagebelle Amyah Espanol added to the rally off a Lorelie Gavaran’s assist, followed by Max Dela Torre’s pair of charity shots, 29-34.
MJ Manguiat then sank three free throws, capping a determined second quarter push, 35-36.
Heading out of halftime, Pasilang and Shane Salvani opened the Lady Tamaraw’s scoring before Espanol and Dela Torre added baskets to keep them within reach, 46-57.
Shortly after, Elaine Patio sank both free throws and a triple to keep the team in contention. Despite the Raiza Palmera-Dy-led squad’s defensive efforts to close the gap, the Lady Falcons maintained a six-point cushion, 53-59.
Momentum shifted in the fourth quarter after Patio hit back-to-back baskets, followed by an Espanol corner triple, 60-65.
The Morayta-based squad stayed within reach after Manguiat and Salvani fueled the offense with back-to-back triples, cutting the deficit to one, 69-70.
Unfortunately, Lady cagebelle Patio missed both free throws in the dying seconds, leaving FEU at a loss in the opening of the second round, 75-77.
Four Lady Tamaraws scored in double figures, led by Pasilang’s 18-point performance and Espanol’s 16 markers, while Patio and Dela Torre chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Now with a 4-4 win-loss record, FEU hopes to bounce back against National University on Saturday, October 31, at the same venue.
(Photo by Rian Balagtas/FEU Advocate)