Lady Archers overpower FEU, but face a setback against UST on Day 2 of 3x3 Basketball Tournament
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers emerged victorious in their first match of the day against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, 18–16. But La Salle eventually was handed a first loss by defending champions, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses, 14–20, in their second match earlier today for the UAAP 3x3 Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay — Activity Center.
Despite their efforts to remain undefeated, the Lady Archers move to a 3–1 record with 67 total points in the UAAP 3x3 Women’s Basketball Tournament, securing a close victory against FEU but succumbing to UST in a tough game filled with long-distance bombs.
DLSU vs. FEU Lady Tamaraws
The first matchup against FEU began with both teams spitting fire, scoring opening points from an exchange of layups from Bettina Binaohan and Rea Ong. From there, the Lasallians went on a four-point run, raining arrows with buckets from Binaohan, Lee Sario, and Tricia Mendoza to force a timeout from FEU to lead at 5–1 with seven minutes remaining. La Salle continued extending their run to five, but Mary Manguiat and Maxene De La Torre ended the heat with two consecutive two-pointers to cut the lead to one at 7–6.
With five minutes to go, Mendoza stepped on the gas to score a layup that could end the pressure from FEU, but De La Torre shot a two that tied the game at 8-all. Both teams started to heat up, exchanging layups and two-pointers and refusing to give each other a significant lead. But the Lady Archers came out on top from the exchange, finally leading at 15–13 with a Sario long-distance bomb.
From this moment forward, La Salle held on and led by as much as four at 18–14. However, Salvani’s hot hand threatened the Lasallians once more, making it a two-point game, 18–16, with a minute left in regulation. Mendoza had a chance to ice the game with a free throw coming from an FEU foul, but the shot missed and the game went on a flurry of plays. Despite several attempts, neither team could score in the final minute, as DLSU soon secured the victory against the Lady Tamaraws at 18–16.
DLSU vs. UST Growling Tigresses
For the second matchup, La Salle went up against the defending 3x3 champions, the UST Growling Tigresses, in a heated game with both squads leaving it all on the floor. The game opened with both teams exchanging baskets from Sario and Tantoy Ferrer, with UST coming out with the early lead at 2–3.
From then on, the defending champions went on a 5–0 run led by Kent Pastrana, heating up from distance to put UST up at 2–7. But Sario managed to end the run with a layup to spark La Salle’s scoring at 3–7, but UST continued to dominate on offense, extending their lead to as much as nine, 5–14. The Lady Archers however, refused to let up as San Juan and Binaohan scored baskets to try and close the gap, but Pastrana and Ana Mae Tacatac’s roars denied La Salle from getting any closer, as UST maintained a nine-point cushion at 10–19. With a minute left in regulation, La Salle stepped on the gas with Sario and Mendoza taking charge, scoring consecutive layups and floaters to try to catch up at 13–20. But these efforts were cut short as the Growling Tigresses held on to eventually win at 14–20 despite the Mendoza buzzer-beater layup.
Catch the Lady Archers back in action on May 4 as they face the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons and the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the same venue:
Lady Archers vs AdU - 3:00 PM
Lady Archers vs Ateneo - 5:20 PM
