FAR Eastern University (FEU) dominated University of the East (UE), 73-53, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday to snap a three-game losing skid in the UAAP Season 89 women’s basketball tournament.
The Lady Tamaraws pulled away in the third quarter with a 10-1 run to build a 20-point lead against the Lady Warriors, 58-38.
FEU continued its onslaught in the final canto and led by as many as 26 points, 71-45, following an Erica Lopez triple with 4:29 to go.
After the game, Lady Tamaraws head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy talked about how her team got over the hump at the Lady Warriors’ expense to rise to 3-3, good for fifth place in the standings.
“It’s very important for us to get over the hump after our three straight losses against Ateneo, UST (University of Santo Tomas), and then NU (National University). As I told them earlier during our huddle, ‘this is the most important game for us.’ We cannot think about other games,” said Palmera-Dy.
“If there’s anything we gained from those losses, especially against UST, it’s that we learned to be physical because we don’t have the height advantage. We are not the most skilled team in the UAAP, so I’m just instilling in the girls the importance of playing physical.”
Lopez finished with 14 points while Amyah Espanol logged 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
MJ Manguiat added 10 points and three assists for FEU, which kept UE winless in six matches.
Sy Oñate unloaded 18 points and four steals for the Lady Warriors, who suffered their 30th consecutive loss dating back to UAAP Season 87.
Rachel Lacayanga backstopped Oñate with 16 points, seven rebounds and five steals.
Both teams will return to action at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym to close out their first-round campaign.
FEU takes on Adamson University on Saturday at 10 a.m. while UE aims for its first win against Ateneo de Manila University on Sunday at 10 a.m.
NIEL VICTOR MASOY
