The DLSU Lady Archers couldn’t quite crack the code against their arch-nemesis Ateneo, falling 57-70 in a spirited battle. La Salle went into halftime with the lead, but as soon as Ateneo’s Kaycee Dela Rosa found her rhythm, the Blue Eagles took control and never really looked back.
The Lady Archers showed some fight early in the fourth, slashing the deficit to 52-60 and injecting some drama back into the game. But Ateneo played with poise down the stretch, piecing together a cold-blooded 7-0 run to build a 13-point lead, 67-54, with just under two minutes remaining, effectively putting the game on ice.
For La Salle, Luisa San Juan was a bright spot, drawing heavy double-teams the second she touched the ball but still managing to lead the Lady Archers with 19 points. Despite the loss, her performance was another testament to her role as La Salle’s go-to option under pressure
The boxscores
Ateneo (70) – Dela Rosa 28, Oani 17, Calago 9, Makanjoula 7, Angala 3, Villacruz 2, Batongbakal 2, Aquirre 2, Cancio 0, Nieves 0.
DLSU (57) – San Juan 19, Sario 11, Mendoza 8, Sunga 8, Paraiso 4, Dalisay 3, Dela Paz 3, Rodriguez 1, Bacierto 0, Villavacua 0.
Quarterscores: 18-21, 31-36, 54-44, 70-57
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