Elaine Etang proved to be the difference maker as Adamson University staved off De La Salle University, 72-49, to return to the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Tournament winning column on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Lady Falcons quickly rebounded from a narrow 64-67 loss to the FEU Lady Tamaraws last Saturday by raising their win-loss record to 6-3 and solidify their hold of third place with four games left in the elimination round.
“I’m very happy with how the girls responded. Going back to the first round, we were telling that we are gatecrashing the Final Four. With how we lost against FEU, it kind of derailed our goal,” said Adamson head coach Ryan Monteclaro. “Today, I was just telling the players that the word ‘success’ will be defined by how we bounce back from adversity, after we fail. Today, it’s a statement of how they responded.”
Adamson turned a slim 33-30 halftime advantage to a 16-point cushion, 55-39, courtesy of a 14-4 run to close the third frame, starred by a layup and triple from Angela Alaba.
Venting their ire on a struggling La Salle slide, Adamson sealed its sixth win with a game-high 24-point lead after a Kim Adeshina layup, an and-one conversion from Etang, and a split at the line from Cheska Apag, 70-46, with less than two minutes left in the fourth period.
The victory marked Adamson’s assertion of their mastery over La Salle, whom they also defeated in their first-round encounter with a 65-54 victory last September 11.
“For us, we wanted to use up as much players as we can para marotate namin. Kaya for ust, it’s next man up. I think the players are ready for the challenge,” Monteclaro added.
Etang led Adamson’s scoring punch with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting to go along with seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Adeshina contributed 16 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and an assist.
Alaba chipped in eight points, while Kim Limbago had an all-around game with six points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals on a game-high plus-24 rating in 23 minutes and 37 sections of play.
Looking ahead, the Lady Falcons aim to continue their winning ways when they clash against the UP Fighting Maroons next Sunday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m., at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Luisa San Juan emerged as La Salle’s lone double-digit scorer with 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting to go along with two rebounds and two assists.
The Lady Archers look to rebound in a rivalry affair against the Ateneo Blue Eagles next Saturday, Oct. 26, 12 p.m., at the same Pasay venue.
