NU completes elimination round sweep

c/o UAAP

JHS Games on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre

10 a.m. - ADU vs UP

12 p.m. - Ateneo vs NUNS

2 p.m. - DLSZ vs UST

4 p.m. - UE vs FEU-D

NATIONAL University is back in the Finals for a chance to reclaim the throne it once owned for seven straight seasons.

The Lady Bulldogs dominated the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 86-58, to complete the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Basketball elimination round sweep and earn the outright Finals berth on Saturday morning at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

This marks NU’s 10th consecutive Finals appearance, only losing in its first rodeo back in Season 76 against De La Salle University and last season against University of Santo Tomas.

The Lady Bulldogs swept the eliminations and force a stepladder semifinals for the first time since Season 82. They lost to La Salle in Season 85 second round and University of the Philippines in Season 86 first round to have a traditional Final Four.

“The goal is to have the opportunity to go back to the Finals and with this win, we finally got it but the work doesn’t stop there. It just gave us the opportunity to be there sa stage na ginugusto namin para maituloy namin yung goal namin of winning another championship,” said NU head coach Aris Dimaunahan, emphasizing that the job is not done.

NU never really gave an inch to FEU right from the start, racing to a 16-0 advantage and a 29-10 count at the end of the first quarter, where eight Lady Bulldogs contributed at least two points.

The Lady Bulldogs exhibited their insane depth as all 14 players fielded scored at least two points led by Cielo Pagdulagan - their lone double-digit scorer - with 11 points.

Jill Talas added nine points, the duo of Aloha Betanio and Angel Surada got eight apiece, while the quartet of Daniella Alterado, Pringle Fabruada, Jainaba Konateh, and Nicole Pring had seven points each.

“Masaya kami pero not too high, not too low. Lagi kaming nireremind ng coaches na job is not done. Thank God nasweep namin at nakabalik ulit kami sa championship. Ilang months namin hinintay ‘to simula last year pagkatalo,” said Surada, a fourth-year forward.

Ball movement was key to NU’s triumph, making 32 assists out of its 33 made field goals.

FEU finished its campaign at seventh place with a 3-11 record - the same exact card it had last season.  

Victoria Pasilang led the Lady Tamaraws in their final battle this season with 18 points and five rebounds while MJ Manguiat added 15 points but committed 11 turnovers.

The Scores:

NU 86 - Pagdulagan 11, Talas 9, Betanio 8, Surada 8, Alterado 7, Fabruada 7, Konateh 7, Pring 7, Pingol 6, Clarin 5, Sois 3, Villanueva 3, Ico 3, Canuto 2.

FEU 58 - Pasilang 18, Manguiat 15, Salvani 8, Nagma 6, Villanueva 5, Ong 4, Gavaran 2, Lopez 0, Paras 0, Dela Torre 0.

Quarterscores: 29-10, 44-30, 62-43, 86-58.