Lady Archers concede season opener to FEU
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers (0–1) opened their UAAP Season 86 campaign with a heartbreaking loss after conceding to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws (1–0), 68–75, earlier today at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
Queenie Aquino sparked an 8-0 run with an initial trey for the Tamaraws during the first few seconds of the 1st quarter, before Tricia Mendoza stopped the bleeding with two free baskets for the Lady Archers, 2-8. But La Salle was plagued by a shooting drought, limited only to free throws before Ange Villava-cua’s 5-0 run made two digits for La Salle, 14-22. To end the quarter, Aji Bojang’s free basket was the last point for the Archers while Josee Kaputu ended the quarter with another floater for FEU, 15-24.
After a one-minute drought in the second kanto, Kaputu striked again from within the arc, 15-26. Meanwhile, the Lady Archers' scoring was gravely limited to free throws and layups as another layup by Chuchi Paraiso finally makes it 20-29. But the Tamaraws shortly erased any progress made by La Salle, responding with three pointers throughout the quarter, 23-34. With Kaputu on the paint, FEU managed a whopping 15-point lead, 25-40, which Paraiso only managed to narrow to nine, 33-42, less than 15 secs on the clock. Attempts from both teams were unsuccessful as the quarter ended in favor of FEU once again, 33–42.
After a stagnant two minutes in the opening of the 3rd quarter, Lee Sario finally had a chance to score for the Archers, 35-44. The guard’s first point ignited the Lady Archers as with both Luisa Dela Paz and Sario on the paint, the team managed to spark a 7-3 run, 42-47. But the Tamaraws always remained five steps ahead, leaving the Lady Archers bleeding and trailing behind. With Kaputu, Aquino, and Jamerin Delos Santos back on the game, FEU’s lead then ballooned back to nine to end the quarter, 46-55.
During the last quarter, threes were sinking from both sides of the court as Honeylyn Caringal and Aquino sunk back-to-back treys, but Luisa San Juan and Villava-cua quickly responded with treys of their own, 52-61. Both teams exchanged baskets; however, even with Kaputu momentarily off the paint, FEU managed to swell their lead back to a 14-pt advantage, 56-70, courtesy of Joann Nagma. In a fiery display, Mendoza’s 4-0 run narrowed the gap but it soon became a head-to-head battle between Mendoza and Kaputu as they exchanged strikes shortly afterwards, 66-74. Sario’s layup less than 15 secs on the clock was La Salle’s final arrow, while Nagma’s free basket ended the game for good, 68-75.
The Lady Archers look to get their first win of the season against arch-rivals the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Wednesday, October 4, 11 AM.
Quarter scores: 15–24, 33–42, 46–55, 68–75
Box scores:
DLSU 68-Mendoza 23, Villava-cua 10, Dela Paz 9, Sario 7, Binaohan 7, Paraiso 6, San Juan 5, Bojang 1, Bacierto 0, Delos Reyes 0
FEU 75-Kaputu 27, Aquino 13, Delos Santos 10, Manguiat 9, Nagma 5, Salvani 4, Caringal 3, Ong 2, Paras 2, Lopez 0, Dela Torre 0, Prado 0, Cabahug 0, Antonio 0
