Luisa San Juan etched her name in UAAP history, tying the event record for most three-pointers made in a game as De La Salle University notched a commanding 89-65 victory over Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
San Juan lit up the scoreboard with 10 triples, surpassing former Lady Archer Khate Castillo’s record of eight treys from 2017. Her shooting display ties the UAAP event mark set by National University’s Jeff Napa (2002) and University of the East’s Allan Caidic (1985), showcasing an elite level of sharpshooting reminiscent of the league’s greats.
The third-year Filipino-British guard finished with 34 points, tying the season-high previously set by Ateneo’s Kacey dela Rosa. But for San Juan, it was never about chasing records. “I got my confidence from my teammates and my coaches. They believe in me, and that’s the biggest thing for me,” she said humbly after the game. “I don’t know the records, but I’m just grateful. I do my role, and it starts with what Coach Cholo asks us to do.”
A Gritty, Record-Breaking Performance
This win marks a significant turning point for the Lady Archers, who secured their first victory of the season after a tough 0-4 start. Head coach Cholo Villanueva, a familiar figure in Lady Archer history, praised the team’s resilience: “We’re breaking records in this program, but more than that, it’s the grit that the girls showed today that I wanted to see.”
The Lady Tamaraws managed to cut La Salle’s 16-point lead down to just four in the fourth quarter, but San Juan, along with Tricia Mendoza and Kyla Sunga, ignited an 18-2 run that buried FEU for good. It was a showcase of pure determination, with each player knowing their role and executing at the highest level.
Mendoza and Sunga, both recording double-doubles, proved to be vital contributors. Mendoza posted 16 points and 15 rebounds, while Sunga added 14 points and 15 boards, reflecting the depth and versatility of the Lady Archers’ attack.
Turning the Corner
La Salle’s dominance started early, as they responded to an early FEU lead with a blistering 25-10 run in the first quarter. From there, it was all about maintaining pressure, an area that Coach Villanueva has long emphasized in his tenure.
“We made it clear that we wanted to set the tone early,” said Villanueva, “and from that first quarter, we knew this game was ours to take.”
Looking Ahead
DLSU will aim to build on this breakthrough win as they face reigning champion University of Santo Tomas this Sunday. For San Juan and her teammates, the focus is clear: build momentum, stay locked in, and continue to make statements.
On the other side, FEU’s MJ Manguiat gave it her all, finishing with 19 points on a tough 35% shooting night, while Shane Salvani added 13 points. The Lady Tamaraws will look to end their two-game slide against Ateneo on Sunday.
The Scores:
DLSU 89 – San Juan 34, Mendoza 16, Sunga 14, Sario 9, Paraiso 4, Dela Paz 3, Rodriguez 3, Santos 3, Barcierto 2, Camba 1, Delos Reyes 0, Villava-Cua 0.
FEU 65 – Manguiat 19, Salvani 13, Lopez 8, Dela Torre 7, Ong 7, Gavaran 5, Villanueva 2, Nagma 2, Paras 2, Pasilang 0, Libor 0.
Quarterscores: 25-10, 42-33, 60-52, 89-65.
