UAAP Women’s Basketball: Adamson breeze past UE, UP shocks DLSU with late comeback
Adamson University ended the first round of the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Basketball Tournament, securing a solo third place following a 63-51 win against University of the East on Sunday, October 6, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Falcons delivered a stellar performance for their Season 87 campaign, closing out the first round with a 5-2 record. The last time they achieved this much success was when they finished third place after losing against De La Salle University back in Season 75 in 2012.
“I’m very happy with how the first round went for us. It’s all about the effort of the players. On our part, we’ll just guide them,” said Lady Falcons head coach Ryan Monteclaro.
The third quarter became a challenge for the Lady Falcons as they had to weather UE’s charges. The Lady Warriors kicked off the second half with a 16-6 run fueled with Ivy Yanez’s eight-point surge to cut the deficit to 47-37.
However, Adamson was able to quickly regain their composure with nine unanswered points in the final period as their lead ballooned to 56-37 advantage eventually sealing the game to secure their fifth win of the season.
Monteclaro fielded all of 16 of his players, with 13 of them getting on the scoresheet.
Kim Limbago tallied 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting with three assists, two rebounds, and one steal for the Lady Falcons. Kim Adeshina supplemented seven markers, 11 boards, three blocks, one deflection, and one dime, while Angela Alaba contributed seven points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Yanez led the Lady Warriors with 16 markers, six boards, three dimes, and one block, while Katherine Ruiz and Aliyah Ronquillo supplied 12 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing effort.
On the other hand, University of the Philippine eked out a come-from-behind win, 66-62, over De La Salle University to end a two-game losing skid.
Their hard-earned victory registered them a 3-4 record to place them in fourth place in the league standings.
"I'm just really so happy we won in the last game of our first round. We lost two consecutive games before this so we badly needed this entering the second round. I'm really proud of the girls that we held on and fought back from a huge deficit," UP coach Paul Ramos said.
Entering the final period, three clutch three-pointers courtesy of Achrissa Maw, Christi Bariquit, and Rizza Lozada propelled them to a 61-60 advantage with just 3:38 on the clock.
The Lady Archers committed three critical turnovers in the final two minutes with Luisa San Juan called for two dribbling violations and a travel by Micay Rodriguez.
Maw led UP’s bounced back efforts with 18 points on 7-of-12 from the field along with eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Gilas Women guard Louna Ozar delivered a double-double of 13 markers, 12 boards, six dimes, and one deflections.
San Juan finished the game with 23 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Bernice Paraiso chipped in 13 markers, six boards, and four dimes in the losing effort.
La Salle slipped to a 1-6 record in the first round, tied for last place with Far Eastern University and University of the East in the eight-team league.
THE SCORES:
First Game:
ADU (63) - Limbago 10, Alaba 7, Adeshina 7, Apag 6, Etang 5, Mazo 5, Bajo 5, Ornopia 4, Delos Santos 4, Agojo 3, Alaba 3, Manlimos 2, Meniano 2, Padilla 0, Trabado 0, Cortez 0.
UE (51) - Yanez 16, Ruiz 12, Ronquillo 10, Ganade 6, Kone 5, Cruz 2, Lumibao 0, Gomez 0, Vacalares 0, Buscar 0, Dalguntas 0.
Quarter Scores: 23-6, 41-21, 53-37, 63-51
Second Game:
UP (66) – Maw 18, Ozar 13, Pesquera 11, Bariquit 11, Tapawan 8, Lozada 5, Mendoza 0, Jimenez 0, Barba 0, Sauz 0, Solitario 0, Nolasco 0, Quinquinio 0, Vingno 0.
DLSU (62) – San Juan 23, Paraiso 13, Sario 7, Dalisay 5, Camba 5, Mendoza 4, Sunga 3, Barcierto 2, Santos 0, Rodriguez 0, Dela Paz 0.
Quarter Scores: 17-15, 35-33, 46-56, 66-62
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TNT extended the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup Finals to a decisive Game 7 after securing a hard-fought 87-83 victory over Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday night, March 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang Giga bounced back from their Game 5 struggles—where tensions flared between Poy Erram and head coach Chot Reyes—by delivering a composed and determined performance in front of 17,654 fans, the largest PBA crowd in two seasons.
Erram, who was at the center of controversy in the previous game, stepped up when it mattered the most.
The Ateneo de Manila product poured in 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, knocking down crucial baskets, including a three-pointer and a reverse layup, during a pivotal 9-0 run that gave TNT its biggest lead of the night at 72-62. He also calmly sank key free throws in the final minutes to fend off Ginebra’s late surge.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led TNT’s charge with a stellar all-around performance, posting a game-high 29 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
Despite missing two crucial free throws earlier, he redeemed himself by calmly sinking a pair of charities with six seconds left, securing the win as Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson misfired on a desperate four-point attempt.
Rey Nambatac also played a key role, contributing 23 markers, including a crucial four-pointer that put TNT ahead at the end of the third quarter, 63-62—a lead they never relinquished. He also registered five boards and three deflections to earn Best Player of the Game.
Calvin Oftana was also instrumental in the win as he chipped in 14 points, drilling four three-pointers.
On the other side, Justin Brownlee paced Ginebra with 22 markers, seven boards, four dimes, and two rejections but struggled with ball security, committing a game-high seven turnovers.
Thompson managed 12 points but shot 4-of-11, while RJ Abarrientos, returning to action, added 12 markers on 5-of-7 shooting.
The PBA last saw a Game 7 championship showdown in the 2022-2023 Commissioner’s Cup when Ginebra defeated the Bay Area Dragons before a record crowd of 54,589 at the Philippine Arena.
With the best-of-seven series now tied at 3-3, TNT and Ginebra will battle for the championship in a high-stakes Game 7 showdown on Friday, March 28, at the Big Dome.
The Scores:
TNT 87 – Hollis-Jefferson 29, Nambatac 23, Oftana 14, Erram 14, Khobuntin 4, Pogoy 3, Heruela 0, Aurin 0, Williams 0.
GINEBRA 83 – Brownlee 22, Thompson 12, Abarrientos 12, Holt 11, J. Aguilar 11, Malonzo 6, Rosario 6, Ahanmisi 3.
Quarter Scores: 22-22; 38-42; 63-62; 87-83.
Barangay Ginebra inched closer to another PBA championship after a hard-fought 73-66 win over TNT in Game 5 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Sunday night, March 23, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee took charge in the final minutes, scoring the Gin Kings’ last 12 points while their teammates locked down the Tropang Giga defensively.
With under four minutes remaining and Ginebra trailing by one, Thompson hit a crucial jumper to give his team a 67-66 edge. From there, star import Brownlee took over, extending the lead and sealing the pivotal 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
“Honestly, we think we all knew from our side that Justin was struggling with his hand a bit more today than the last game and so everybody had to step up,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone.
“And even though Justin made big shots down the stretch, it was the inspiration of Scottie that turned the tide for us. We didn’t play a good first half. The first half was like in second gear. We knew at halftime we had to step it up to a higher gear to have a chance,” he added.
TNT struggled to respond, failing to convert a single field goal after Rey Nambatac’s free throws at the 4:25 mark.
Despite late attempts from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Glen Khobuntin, and RR Pogoy following an RJ Abarrientos turnover with 25.2 seconds left, the Tropang Giga couldn’t capitalize, allowing Ginebra to escape with the win.
Brownlee, despite dealing with a right thumb injury, led Ginebra with 18 points on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting, adding 14 rebounds and five assists.
Thompson led the local unit with a double-double output of 16 markers, 10 boards, and five dimes, while Japeth Aguilar and Maverick Ahanmisi chipped in 11 apiece.
On the other hand, RHJ paced TNT with 19 points but struggled with his efficiency, making just seven of 26 attempts from the field. Nambatac also recorded 19 markers built on three triples.
Calvin Oftana, Kim Aurin, and Pogoy each scored eight points, but their efforts weren’t enough to regain control of the series after holding a 2-1 lead earlier.
With the 3-2 series lead, Ginebra now has the chance to close out the finals and capture the championship on Wednesday, March 26, at the same venue in Quezon City.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 73 – Brownlee 18, Thompson 16, J.Aguilar 11, Ahanmisi 11, Rosario 6, Malonzo 6, Holt 3, Abarrientos 2, Tenorio 0
TNT 66 – Hollis-Jefferson 19, Nambatac 19, Oftana 8, Pogoy 8, Aurin 8, Erram 4, Heruela 0, Williams 0, Exciminiano 0, Khobuntin 0
Quarter Scores: 17-24, 35-45, 57-56, 73-66
TNT moved ahead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, securing a hard-fought 87-85 victory over Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday, March 19, at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Rey Nambatac’s crucial three-pointer in the final moments proved to be the game-winner, as the Tropang Giga capitalized on multiple second-chance opportunities to break an 82-82 tie.
Ginebra faced an uphill battle after star import Justin Brownlee exited with a dislocated right thumb in the third quarter. Despite this setback, the Gin Kings remained competitive, briefly leading 82-80 in the closing minutes before TNT seized control.
After RJ Abarrientos turned the ball over, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson connected with Glenn Khobuntin for a fast break layup, pushing TNT’s lead to 87-82 and sealing the win.
With the victory, TNT now has a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series advantage in Game 4 on Friday, March 21, at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Nambatac, stepping up in the absence of Jayson Castro, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the semifinals, erupted for 24 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.
Hollis-Jefferson bounced back from a tough Game 2 performance, delivering 20 markers, 11 boards, and eight dimes. Meanwhile, Calvin Oftana contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists, but it was his two crucial offensive boards in the play leading to Nambatac’s three-pointer that made a lasting impact on the game.
Before his injury, Brownlee posted 19 markers, four boards, and five dimes for Ginebra.
The Gin Kings managed to hold a nine-point lead in the first half and remained in control for stretches of the second, even leading 77-74 late in the game. However, TNT’s persistence ultimately turned the tide.
Scottie Thompson recorded 16 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Troy Rosario had his best outing of the series with 13 markers and seven boards. Abarrientos and Jamie Malonzo chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively.
A highlight of the first half came just before the buzzer, when RHJ drained a jumper to cut Ginebra’s lead to 48-42 at halftime. That momentum helped the Tropang Giga stay within striking distance before executing in the clutch to steal the win.
Now in control of the series, TNT looks to put Ginebra on the brink of elimination in Game 4.