De La Salle University closed its campaign on a winning note after posting a 58-45 crushing of University of the East in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 women’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Despite missing the Final Four bus, the Lady Archers at least built something they could pick up from for next year as they wrapped up their campaign with a three-game winning streak.
La Salle, runner-up to powerhouse defending champion National University last year, finished at the fifth spot with a 5-5 win-loss record.
“I’m very proud of the girls because from our first-round performance to now going into the second round and finishing the UAAP tournament on a winning note speaks a lot about the big turnaround that we achieved this year,” Lady Archers head coach Cholo Villanueva said of his team’s campaign that started shaky with a 2-5 record at the end of the first round.
Meanwhile, Adamson University beat Far Eastern University, 71-60, to end a three-game skid for a 4-10 slate at sixth place.
Cris Padilla and Elaine Etang led the Lady Falcons with 18 and 12 points, respectively. Cheska Apag had 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists while Nigerian center Victoria Adeshina scored 10 points and seven rebounds for Adamson.
The Lady Tamaraws ended their campaign with six losses in a row for a seventh place finish with a 3-11 record.
The Lady Archers opened a 17-point lead heading into the payoff period, enough to cushion a late comeback of the Lady Warriors that trimmed their lead down to 49-42 with 4:54 left.
Lee Sario led La Salle with 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists while Bernice Paraiso got 14 markers and 18 boards.
UE, on the other hand, suffered a second straight winless season and absorbed their 37th straight loss.
Arabela dela Rosa led the Lady Warriors with 13 points.
