NADOMINA, tulad ng inaasahan, ng Nationg University sa pangunguna ni Congolese center Rhena Itesi, ang Ateneo de Manila, 78-51, para patuloy na dugtungan ang kasaysayan sa UAAP Season 82 Women’s Basketball Tournament kahapon sa Ynares Center sa Antipolo.

Umiskor si Itesi ng 25 puntos, 21 rebounds, 5 blocks at 2 assists upang giyahan ang Lady Bulldogs sa kanilang ika-6 na sunod na panalo ngayong season na nagpalawig naman ng kanilang rekord winning streak sa 86 na sunod.

“She’s definitely big for us,” pahayag ni NU coach Patrick Aquino patungkol kay Itesi. “We’ve been training with Jack and Kelli out, and Rhena’s gonna be the only big girl there. So we try to push her a little bit more.”

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Nagdagdag naman si Fil-Am forward Kelli Hayes ng 11 puntos, 4 rebounds, at 2 assists, kasunod si Jack Animam na may tig-7 puntos at boards, at 4 na assists bago umalis kasama ng Gilas Pilipinas Women squad patungong Bangalore, India upang sumabak sa 2019 Fiba Women’s Asia Cup.

Buhat sa 33-29, na bentahe sa halftime nagsalansan ang Lady Bulldogs ng 26 puntos sa third period upang palakihin ang lamang sa 20-puntos, 59-39.

“Medyo slow start, unlike the past two games. Maybe it was because of the long road traveling here, and we had to really adjust because Ateneo started well,” ayon kay Aquino. “It’s a good thing some of the bigs stepped up, including Rhena, Kelli, and Jack.

The thing is, we did what we want to do.”

Nanguna naman si Kat Guytingco para sa Ateneo sa ipinoste nitong 17 puntos at 6 rebounds.

Dahil sa kabiguan, bumaba ang Lady Eagles sa markang 2-3.

Natuldukan ng University of Santo Tomas anbg two-game skid sa gabuhok na 56-55 panalo kontra Far Eastern University.

Hataw si Grace Irebu sa Golden Tigresses sa naiskor na 21 puntos, walong rebounds, tatlong assists, tatlong steals, at dalawang blocks.

“We are lucky to win this game,” pahayag ni coach Haydee Ong.

“We had crucial passing errors that were converted by FEU. We are just fortunate to get this one.”

-Marivic Awitan

Iskor:

(Unang Laro)

NU (78) -- Itesi 25, Hayes 11, Surada 11, Cacho 8, Animam 7, Bartolo 4, Clarin 4, Harada 4, Canuto 2, Fabruada 2, Del Carmen 0, Goto 0.

ATENEO (51) -- Guytingco 17, Chu 9, Yam 9, Villamor 6, Joson 4, Cancio 2, Moslares 2, Payac 2, De Dios 0, Newsome 0, Nimes 0, Villacruz 0.

Quarterscores: 16-19, 33-29, 59-39, 78-51.

(Ikalawang Laro)

UST (56) -- Irebu 21, Rivera 9, Panti 7, Callangan 5, Ferrer 3, Gonzales 3, Soriano 3, Tacatac 3, Portillo 2, Gandalla 0, Javier 0.

FEU (55) -- Bahuyan 16, Abat 12, Jumuad 10, Mamaril 6, Quiapo 5, Castro 3, Vidal 3, Adriano 0, Antiola 0, Bastatas 0, Delos Santos 0, Payadon 0.