In what was the first televised elimination round match of the UAAP Season 82 Women’s Basketball Tournament, the De La Salle University Lady Archers overcame adversity to come out with the victory and put their Final Four hopes back on track.
With their first round loss at the hands of the Ateneo Lady Eagles still fresh on their minds, the Lady Archers successfully gained vengeance thanks to a 62-53 victory, Sunday morning at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The result elevates La Salle to fifth place in the standings at 4-6 and arrests a two-game losing streak.
“It was a very emotional game for us. Anytime you go against the other school, it’s always that way. But we just held our composure down the stretch and make the winning plays,” said La Salle coach Cholo Villanueva.
Up 57-53 late in the fourth quarter, Charmaine Torres took over the Lady Archers offense and ignited a 5-0 run, which the Lady Eagles were not able to recover from. The game was also a good show of defense from La Salle as it defended a four-point barrier throughout the second half.
The third buzzer-beating desperation heave in women's basketball in 2 days. Wazzup with that?
La Salle leads at the half.
pic.twitter.com/MCXaXqkMdX— Go Archers (@GoArchers) October 13, 2019
“(Torres) played very well on both ends. She’s one of our two-way players and she came all-out today, played with pride, and never wanted us to lose today,” added Villanueva.
Torres led La Salle with 17 points alongside eight rebounds while Kent Pastrana followed with 12 points. Bennette Revillosa and Lee Sario flirted with a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds each while Maureen Okoli seized 10 boards.
La Salle hopes to continue its momentum as it next faces University of the East on October 16, 2019, 8:00 AM at the same venue.
La Salle 62 – Torres 17, Pastrana 12, Revillosa 9, Sario 9, Okoli 5, Dalisay 4, Binaohan 2, Paraiso 2, Quingco 2, Espinas, Jajurie, Jimenez, Malarde.
Ateneo 53 – Villamor 12, Nimes 11, Yam 10, Guytingco 8, Payac 4, Joson 3, Newsome 3, Chu 2, Moslares 0.