National University advanced to its eighth-straight Finals appearance after trouncing Ateneo, 83-64, in the UAAP Season 85 women’s basketball Final Four at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Wednesday.
The Lady Bulldogs will await the winner of the La Salle-University of Santo Tomas knockout match after the latter prevailed, 68-57, in a wire-to-wire fashion.
The Lady Archers came into the game armed with a twice-to-beat advantage but the thanks to the superb effort of Eka Soriano, the Tigresses forced a rubber match on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Soriano did it all for the Tigresses with 23 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Trailing by 13 at the half, Sarah Makanjuola and LJ Miranda teamed up to pull the Blue Eagles within six at the 6:04 mark of the third frame, 48-54.
But Camille Clarin, Aloha Betanio, Tin Cayabyab, Annick Edimo Tiky, and Ann Pingol connived to restore a commanding 21-point lead for NU with 6:54 left in the game, 71-50.
“I have to give credit to our ladies for putting in the work kahit na nai-iskoran kami, kahit na nasu-shootan kami at some point hindi sila bumitaw and they just kept on fighting and stayed together,” said Lady Bulldogs coach Aris Dimaunahan.
Clarin made five triples on her way to 19 points with three rebounds and three assists, while Mikka Cacho got 15 points, 13 in the first half to keep NU afloat.
Edimo Tiky chipped in 10 points and six rebounds while Gypsy Canuto got eight points and 10 assists.
Rookie Kacey Dela Rosa (22 points, 18 rebounds, and seven blocks) and Jhazmin Joson (13 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals) had a huge first half for the Blue Eagles but were limited in the other half, getting just four points and four rebounds; and three points and three rebounds, respectively.
