National University needed a late-game push to send La Salle on the brink of elimination, 73-64, and maintain its firm grip of the solo lead in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Wednesday.
With the Lady Bulldogs ahead by just four, Jainaba Konateh and Ann Pingol connived for seven unanswered points to establish an 11-point lead with 1:47 left in the game and shrug the Lady Archers’ strong stand, 71-60.
The win enabled the Lady Bulldogs to stretch their winning streak to eight games to improve to 10-1, a game and a half ahead of second-running University of the Philippines, which will face Far Eastern University later on.
The Lady Archers fell to 4-7, needing to win all of their remaining games while hoping 7-4 Ateneo Blue Eagles drop all of theirs for a chance to enter the Final Four.
“It’s one of our games that we cannot find a groove consistently. Actually, that was the challenge right before the tip-off, for us to find some consistency in our game,” lamented NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan on their performance despite the win.
Jainaba Konateh, the 19-year-old Gambian big of the Lady Bulldogs, played her best game yet, producing 17 points and 17 rebounds in 24 minutes and 42 seconds of floor time.
She stepped up big time after top guns Camille Clarin, Angel Surada, and Tin Cayabyab all had an off night for NU.
“Jainaba I guessed was the only big of us that was not in foul trouble… I’m just glad Jainabah didn’t have foul trouble this morning today. She played her role of getting the rebounds and trying to score if she had the opportunity,” said Dimaunahan.
The scores:
NU 73 – Konateh 17, Solis 9, Canuto 8, Pingol 8, Bartolo 8, Fabruada 7, Clarin 5, Betanio 5, Surada 4, Cayabyab 1, Ico 1, Berberabe 0, Talas 0.
DLSU 64 – Mendoza 13, Paraiso 13, Dela Paz 10, Sario 7, Binaohan 4, San Juan 4, Sunga 4, Barcieto 4, Delos Reyes 3, Dalisay 2.
Quarters: 22-17, 39-34, 56-52, 73-64.
