NU takes Game 1 of UAAP women’s hoops finals

THE National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs survived the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, 7774, in Game 1 of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79 women’s basketball finals at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday.

Snow Peñaranda tied the ball game at 26-all with a putback off Bennette Revillosa’s miss with 5:23 minutes remaining in the first half.

The Lady Archers ignited a 7-0 run, behind Kat Nuñez’s three- pointer and a layup. Peñaranda’s jumper allowed La Salle to pull away from the Lady Bulldogs with less than two minutes left, 26-33.

Jack Animam scored a basket off a fast break to complete an 8-0 run for the blue-and-gold cagers in the 7:54 minute mark of the third period, 36-39.

Peñaranda broke the dry spell for La Salle with a basket inside the paint with 6:44 minutes left in the quarter, 39-41. She drew the penalty foul on Rhena Itesi in the 2:24 minute mark. Itesi then split her free throws, 51-43.

Revillosa scored another basket inside the paint to close the third canto with La Salle trailing by seven points, 56- 49.

La Salle’s Camille Claro and Khate Castillo posted three consecutive three-pointers with 3:00 minutes left in the match, 67-64.

The Lady Bulldogs retaliated with their own 4-0 run from the efforts of Afril Bernardino and Itesi in the 1:47 minute mark, 71-64.

Castillo and Claro employed their three- point shooting to cut NU’s lead to one, 71- 70. Ria Nabalan hit back- to- back treys in the last minute, securing the victory for the Lady Bulldogs, 77- 72.

Gemma Miranda top scored for NU with a double-double outing of 23 points and 15 rebounds, followed by Jack Animam with 14 markers. Nabalan and Itesis added 11 points apiece, while Bernardino had 10 markers.

Castillo led La Salle with 18 points, while Peñaranda tallied 16 markers. Claro and Revillosa combined for 29 points.