By MARK REY MONTEJO
National University earned outright final slot in a rousing fashion as it demolished Far Eastern University, 86-58, to sweep the preliminary round of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City Saturday morning, Nov. 23.
The Lady Bulldogs were a joy to watch, what with their impressive ball movement that saw them tally 32 assists en route to their 14th straight win, giving them a chance to redeem themselves in their 10th consecutive final appearance.
As the Bulldogs swept the prelims, it forced a stepladder round-one match between No. 3 Adamson and No. 4 Ateneo then the winner will face UST, which holds a twice-to-beat card in the stepladder 2.
“The goal is to have the opportunity to go back to the Finals and with this win, we finally got it but the work doesn’t stop there,” said NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan.
“It just gave us the opportunity to be there sa stage na ginugusto namin para maituloy namin yung goal namin of winning another championship,” she added.
NU’s 14 players contributed in the scoring column which was led by Cielo Pagdulagan, who finished with 11 points while Aloha Betanio and Angel Surada backstopped her with eight each.
“Masaya kami pero not too high, not too low. Lagi kaming nireremind ng coaches na job is not done,” said Surada added.
Victoria Pasilang and MJ Manguiat powered the Tamaraws with 18 and 15 points, respectively, in a losing cause as FEU concluded its season with a 3-11 win-loss tally at seventh.
The scores:
NU 86 – Pagdulagan 11, Talas 9, Betanio 8, Surada 8, Alterado 7, Fabruada 7, Konateh 7, Pring 7, Pingol 6, Clarin 5, Sois 3, Villanueva 3, Ico 3, Canuto 2.
FEU 58 – Pasilang 18, Manguiat 15, Salvani 8, Nagma 6, Villanueva 5, Ong 4, Gavaran 2, Lopez 0, Paras 0, Dela Torre 0.
Quarters: 29-10, 44-30, 62-43, 86-58.
