National University showed too much class as the Lady Bulldogs dismantled the La Salle Archers, 112-58, in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament yesterday at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Center Rhena Itesi led NU’s onslaught with 20 points aside from posting19 rebounds, and a block.
Not to be left out was last year MVP Jack Animam who also had a double-double of 18 points and 13 boards as the Lady Bulldogs extended their record winning streak to 83 games.
Knowing that the Lady Archers are one of the contenders to watch for this season, NU head coach Patrick Aquino’s call was to start aggressively.
“I told the girls to play hard. We’ve been coming off the start very slow. Going into the game, they are in it by the second quarter and then slow again in the third quarter,” he said. “I just want us to be consistent with everything – to start strong and finish stronger.”
The Lady Bulldogs picked it up a notch in the second period after scoring 29 points in the opening quarter, while limiting the Lady Archers to only nine.
Camille Clarin set the tone in the first half, scoring 11 of her 19 points in the opening frame. Kaye Pingol and Kelli Hayes produced 14 and 11 markers, respectively.
In the heat of a 60-percent field goal shooting, NU built a 35-point cushion at the half at 62-29.
La Salle dropped their second straight game, falling to 1-2.
The scores;
NU 112 – Itesi 20, Clarin 19, Animam 18, Pingol 14, Hayes 11, Cac 9, Supada 4, Canuto 4, Cacho 4, Bartolo 3, Harada 2, Fabruada 2, Del Carmen 2, Goto 0.
DLSU 58 – Paraiso 14, Pastrana 12, Revillosa 8, Binaohan 7, Quingco 6, Torres 3, Sario 3, Castillo 3, Okoli 2, Jimenez 0, Jajurie 0, Espinas 0, Camba 0, El Hadad 0.
Quarters: 29-9, 62-27, 70-43, 112-58