Despite opening its season on a winning note, the University of the Philippines Women’s Basketball Team (UP WBT) has now stumbled in consecutive outings.
Now with a 1-2 slate, State U vows to hone its skills and iron out its weaknesses as the season progresses.
Patching the gaps
After a come-from-behind win in its season opener against the Kacey dela Rosa-led Ateneo Blue Eagles, the UP WBT dropped its recent games against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Sunday, Oct. 4, and the Adamson University Lady Falcons, 60-67, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Reflecting on the team’s recent performances, Maroon forward Shane Cunanan acknowledged that the Fighting Maroons need to maintain their composure in crucial stretches of the match.
“‘Yong [t]eam composure [namin]. The way we played earlier, that’s not [the way] we want to play,” Cunanan told Tinig ng Plaridel.
The maroon cager led the scoring efforts for the Fighting Maroons with 14 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Louna Ozar and Marielle Vingno added 12 and nine markers, respectively.
With the team struggling to find its offensive rhythm, Cunanan also emphasized the need to put in extra work ahead of their upcoming clash against the Lady Archers.
“[M]agtitiwala lang kami sa game plan ng coaches and then personally, siguro we need to do some extras pa on everything kasi medyo kinapos kami so maybe there [are still areas] we need to improve [on] pa,” she said.
Playing catch-up
Right from the tipoff, UP’s turnovers let Adamson lead by as many as 10 points, 4-14, midway through the opening quarter, with Elaine Etang leading the scoring for the Lady Falcons with eight points.
Kennan Ka, Marielle Vingno and Blessing Francis combined for 12 points by the end of the first quarter to cut State U’s deficit to seven, 16-23.
State U outscored the Lady Falcons in the second frame, 17-13, with Cunanan coming in hot off the bench and knocking down a triple to put the game at a 31-all deadlock, helping UP pull within three by halftime, 33-36.
Offensive struggles continued to plague the Fighting Maroons in the third canto as Cheska Apag and Etang converted baskets for the Lady Falcons, rebuilding their 43-50 lead heading into the final quarter.
Still unable to convert trips down the floor into points, UP saw Adamson stretch its lead to 14 in the final quarter at 43-57, its largest of the match.
Despite matching the Lady Falcons’ pace in the fourth, the maroon jerseys could not overcome the deficit as Ashley Loon drilled a triple in the last 16 seconds to cap State U’s late-game push before ultimately falling to Adamson.
Apag and Etang combined for 39 points to seal the San Marcelino-based squad’s first victory of the season.
UP WBT will aim to break its losing streak as it faces the DLSU Lady Archers on Sunday, Oct. 11, on the same battleground.
UP WBT QUARTER SCORES: 16-23, 33-36, 43-50, 60-67
