By Vince Matthew Jaramilla

Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraw Erica Joi Lopez activated her clutch genes to overcome the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons, 67-64, securing their second victory in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 women's basketball tournament earlier today, October 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Lopez scored 12 points in the final canto, including the triple to take the lead with a minute remaining. In total, the guard had 17 markers on 66.7 percent shooting and 23 minutes of play off the bench.

In the post-game conference, Lopez attributed head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy’s confidence in them for her effective shooting performance. 

“Grabe lang po ‘yung kumpiyansa na ibinibigay sa’min ni Coach Rai na ‘pag open ka, itira mo nang buong puso [at] walang duda kasi ‘pag ginawa mo ‘yung sistema na gusto ni Coach, talagang nagwo-work po siya (The confidence Coach Rai gives us is so great that when you’re open, you should shoot it wholeheartedly and doubtlessly because if you follow the system Coach wants, it really works),” she said.

Both teams came out firing, resulting in a high-scoring yet tight start, 7-7.

The Lady Falcons were able to create separations at 7-12 and 12-16 through small runs, but the Lady Tams launched their own bursts to keep the game close at the end of the first frame, 17-16.

In the first three minutes of the second quarter, a scoring drought fell on FEU. Simultaneously, Adamson penetrated the defense with efficient dimes and drives, forcing an 0-8 slump and a timeout from the former.

Off the pause, the green-and-gold cagebelles addressed their offensive struggle by sharing the ball more to trade baskets with the blue-and-white squad, 27-33.

The Lady Tams became red-hot from downtown with Yvette Villanueva's two triples and Lopez's one to mount a 9-0 run in the last two minutes of the half, 36-33.

After halftime, FEU stuck to their second-quarter-closing lineup of Villanueva, Lopez, MJ Manguiat, Joann Nagma, and Riri Ong. The squad exhibited improved defensive rotations, increasing the lead to seven at 44-37.

However, turnover and foul troubles got the best of the Morayta cagebelles late into the canto, causing them to lose said advantage, 47-49.

The turnover issues did not leave the Lady Tams in the fourth frame, with two already in the first minute. 

Fortunately, Lopez's back-to-back treys kept the Falcons at striking distance, 53-52. She was also the one to take back the lead with another trey right after, 56-55.

Still a tight game in the final minutes, Lopez knocked down another lead-snatching triple, 65-64, leaving just 1:02 in the match.

Considering her lights-out shooting, the green-and-gold gunner mentioned that her main focus during the game was still defense.

“Actually, wala po sa isip ko ‘yung offense kanina. Ang nasa isip ko lang, dumepensa… Grabe po ‘yung hirap namin sa training, in-apply ko lang (Actually, offense was not in my mind earlier. My focus was to defend… Our training is really hard, I just applied it),” she shared.

When Adamson played the foul game, Shane Salvani hit the dagger free throws in the last 11 seconds to seal the win.

With their second Season 87 victory in the books, Palmera-Dy explained the confidence she had in her players even before they won.

“I’m not surprised na they win ngayon. I’ve seen them play six times a week. Naniniwala ako na kaya nila. Like I mentioned in the first round, kailangan lang namin na sabay-sabay na mayroong magandang laro (I’m not surprised that they won today. I’ve seen them play six times a week. I believe that they can do it. Like I mentioned in the first round, we just need everyone to have a good game at the same time),” she stated.

The green-and-gold squad will aim to build a winning streak in their next match against the University of the East on October 20 at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila City.

(Photo by Krystoffer Zyanel Bermudez/FEU Advocate)