NU shakes off Ateneo, improves record to 8-0
National University maintained its flawless record in the second round of the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday, October 13, with a commanding 20-point victory against Ateneo, 82-62, at the Araneta Coliseum.
Rookie Cielo Pagdulagan delivered her usual fine form for the Lady Bulldogs with 16 points along with seven assists, six rebounds, and five steals without committing a turnover to end the match with a game-high plus-27 rating off the bench.
In their first round matchup, Ateneo had given NU everything it had before the Lady Bulldogs clinched 66-58. This time, they had less difficulty, taking control of the game with a 20-point second quarter and winning by a significant margin.
"The one week break that happened between the first round and the second round really helped us in preparing for this game specifically because we had a lot of time processing and laying down the game plan," said NU coach Aris Dimaunahan.
Banking on the absence of Ateneo’s leading player Junize Calago, who fouled out early in the third quarter at 7:18, the Lady Bulldogs extended their lead to a game-high 22 points, 56-34, courtesy of Aloha Betanio’s layup and triple.
Betanio recorded 11 markers, five boards, three dimes, and four deflections, while May Canuto supplemented 11 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Jainaba Konateh and Camille Clarin each provided eight and seven markers, while Angel Surada only managed to score three points on one of four shots but still pulled down eight rebounds.
The Lady Bulldogs hope to keep their record unblemished when they face the UP Fighting Maroons next Sunday, October 20, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Meanwhile, Kacey Dela Rosa tallied her eight consecutive double-double with 22 points and 17 rebounds, as well as an assists and a block, while Nigerian center Sarah Makanjoula was limited to seven markers on 2-of-8 shooting but still managed to finish with 11 boards, two deflections, one rejections, and one dimes.
After fouling out, Calago posted six points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals, but also committed six turnovers.
Ateneo will strive to end a two-game losing streak against the reigning champions Growling Tigresses next Saturday, October 19, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Scores:
NU (82) - Pagdulagan 16, Betanio 11, Canuto 11, Konateh 8, Clarin 7, Villanueva 6, Pingol 5, Fabruada 4, Solis 4, Cayabyab 3, Surada 3, Ico 2, Alterado 2, Pring 0, Talas 0
Ateneo (62) - Dela Rosa 22, Makanjuola 7, Cruza 7, Calago 6, Batongbakal 6, Oani 6, Angala 5, Villacruz 2, Eufemiano 1, Nieves 0, Aquirre 0, Olivenza 0, Cancio 0, Lopez 0, Fetalvero 0.
Quarter Scores: 19-14, 39-25, 64-47, 82-62.
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It wasn’t the smoothest of starts for NLEX, which found itself down by 11 early in the game. But the tide shifted in the second quarter, where the Road Warriors erupted for a 34-12 run behind the efforts of Robert Bolick, Dominic Fajardo, Tony Semerad, and Xyrus Torres to seize a 52-36 halftime lead.
Blackwater attempted a late push, cutting the gap to 76-65 in the fourth quarter, but NLEX responded with a 12-5 counter that put the game out of reach. Semerad, who buried three triples in the payoff period, earned Finals MVP honors with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Torres topped the scoring for NLEX with 19 markers, while Bolick came close to a triple-double with eight points, six boards, and nine assists. JB Bahio and Fajardo chipped in 12 and 10 markers, respectively. As a team, the Road Warriors torched the net from beyond the arc, going 18-of-34, with Semerad and Torres sinking four each.
Sedrick Barefield paced Blackwater with 15 points, while Richard Escoto added 14. The Bossing, despite falling short in the finals, had an impressive run in the preliminaries, including a comeback win over NLEX, 95-90, earlier in the tournament.
The championship serves as a timely boost for NLEX heading into the new PBA season. Last year, the Road Warriors finished second in the Philippine Cup eliminations before bowing out in the quarterfinals against Rain or Shine. Deputy mentor Adonis Tierra called the shots in their last two games, steering the team to become the second straight PBA squad to lift the Kadayawan crown, following Rain or Shine’s sweep in 2024. NLEX closed the tournament with a 3-1 card, their lone loss coming at the hands of Blackwater.
In the battle for third place, Phoenix avoided a winless campaign with a convincing 101-81 rout of Converge. Raffy Verano led the way with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Tyler Tio and Kai Ballungay contributed 17 and 15 markers, respectively. The win marked the first for new head coach Willy Wilson, who took over during the offseason. Coincidentally, Phoenix also defeated Converge for third place in last year’s edition of the tournament.
The NLEX Road Warriors and Blackwater Bossing opened their campaigns in the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational with victories in their respective first games on Thursday, August 21, at the USEP Gym in Davao City.
In the first game, Sedrick Barefield made an immediate impact for the Bossing. The 2024 second overall pick erupted for 28 points, including six triples. Three of those came in succession in the fourth quarter, turning a slim 72-66 lead into a more comfortable 81-68 cushion.
Troy Mallillin contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while newcomer Jed Mendoza impressed in his debut with 16 points.
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All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
The second game of the night brings a rematch between the P. LEAGUE+ champions Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. Their last encounter came in the 2025 EASL Final Four semifinals, where Taoyuan stunned Ryukyu, 71–64. This time, the Golden Kings are eager for redemption, while the Pilots hope to reaffirm their place among Asia’s elite.
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