By Jerome Lagunzad
Three-time defending champion National University continued its unstoppable drive in the UAAP Season 80 women’s basketball tournament yesterday and the Lady Bulldogs did it in another impressive fashion.
Guard Trixie Antiquerra banged in a career offensive performance while Jack Animam frolicked in the paint anew as rampaging NU proved too strong for erstwhile University of Santo Tomas, 95-65, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Antiquerra, confidently filling in the shoes left by former MVP winner Afril Bernardino, fired 21 of his career-best 27 points in the first half while the 6-foot-2 Animam finished with 23 points and 18 rebounds as the Lady Bulldogs dominated the Tigresses in the second half, turning what started a tight battle into a one-sided affair.
“Again, it has to be teamwork in the end for a team like this,” said NU coach Pat Aquino, pleased with his wards’ collective performance on the way to their third straight victory – and 51st overall since 2014 – aside from seizing the solo leadership.
Anjel Anies tallied 18 points for UST, which dropped to a four-way tie from second to fifth spots with identical 2-1 records.
In the other match, Adamson finally broke the ice after three tries at the expense of struggling La Salle 88-84.
Nathalia Prado dished out a performance to remember with a career-high of 26 points for the Lady Falcons.
Ana Castillo had 19 points in a losing cause for the Lady Archers, last year’s runners-up who are visibly struggling to move on in the absence of ace gunner Camille Claro, plus slot men Susan Al-Mohamen and Benette Revillosa, due to season-ending injuries.
