MANILA, Philippines — In a preview of their stepladder knockout match, Adamson got the better of Ateneo, 58-52, to end the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball elimination round on a high note on Saturday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Elaine Etang and Cris Padilla joined hands to mount a 15-point lead early in the fourth, 54-39. However, the Blue Eagles unleashed a 10-0 run to reduce it to a 54-49 deficit with 1:48 left.

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Etan and Kem Adeshina kept Ateneo at bay for a 58-49 advantage with 31 seconds left to snap their opponents’ four-game winning streak before the stepladder semifinals.

READ: UAAP: NU Lady Bulldogs sweep their way back to finals

With NU earning an outright ticket to the #UAAPSeason87 women’s basketball best-of-three finals, Adamson and Ateneo will clash in a knockout game with the winner facing No.2 UST in the stepladder semis. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/lL9M3ndPMm

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) November 23, 2024

Novie Ornopia led the Lady Falcons with 10 points and five rebounds. Etang had nine points, while Adeshina added eight points and five rebounds. 

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Adamson finished third in the elimination round with a 9-5 record as the winner of its stepladder game advances to the next round against defending champion and No.2 seed University of Santo Tomas after National University completed a 14-game sweep for an outright Finals berth.

“For us, this is something we can use moving forward. Getting the momentum, building more confidence, and at the same time just making the feel of playing against Ateneo because we’re aware that we’re gonna play them again after the win of NU this morning,” said Adamson coach Ryan Monteclaro.

Ateneo ended fourth with an 8-6 card with the reigning MVP Kacey Dela Rosa putting up 15 points and 19 rebounds, being the only player to notch a double-double in each of the 14 games since Season 79 Men’s MVP Ben Mbala of La Salle.

Junize Calago returned from her suspension and contributed 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Sarah Makanjuola added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

READ: UAAP: Ateneo win sends Adamson to women’s basketball Final Four

Meanwhile, UST finished second with a 12-2 record after dominating La Salle, 70-52.

The Growling Tigresses unleashed 20 points in the opening period, holding the Lady Archers to just three points on a poor 1-of-14 shooting.

Their dominant start completed the elimination round with three consecutive wins as Tacky Tacatac led UST with 14 points, all from the first half. Kent Pastrana had 10 points, six rebounds, and six assists. 

Brigette Santos and Koi Danganan also added nine points apiece in the win that saw the Growling Tigresses dominate the paint, 30-14, and bench points, 33-10. 

“We wanted to emphasize on our team defense and I’m happy na ‘yung mga ginawa namin for the past week nakuha ng mga bata. They gave La Salle a hard time in the first quarter,” said UST coach Haydee Ong. 

UST will face the winner of Adamson and Ateneo stepladder game.

“Nagbase talaga kami sa training namin. Coming into the Final Four, umpisa na kung ano yung trabaho namin kaya nagpukpok kami sa training, nagtulungan kami kung anong dapat itama sa defense kasi doon kami nagkukulang,” said Pastrana. 

Luisa San Juan led all scorers with 15 points with La Salle ending up in sixth place with a 4-10 record. Bettina Binaohan and Bernice Paraiso have played their final game for the Lady Archers.

In the final elimination game of the season, the University of the Philippines (5-9) beat cellar dweller University of the East (1-13) with a 65-48 rout.

Rookie Camille Nolasco saved the best for last, unleashing her best game of the season with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting to go with four rebounds and two assists. Kaye Pesquera chipped in 14 points, while Louna Ozar had 13 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists. to finish in fifth place. 

Despite another last-place finish, UE still made its first win since 2019, upsetting La Salle in the first round.

Princess Ganade had 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

The Scores:

Second Game:

UST 70 – Tacatac 14, Pastrana 10, Santos 9, Danganan 9, Sierba 7, Maglupay 6, Reliquette 5, Ambos 2, Amatong 2, Bron 2, Soriano 0, Pineda 0, Serrano 0, Pescador 0. 

DLSU 52 – San Juan 15, Sario 9, Binaohan 8, Sunga 7, Dela Paz 6, Mendoza 3, Santos 2, Dalisay 1, Paraiso 1, Bacierto 0, Camba 0. 

Quarterscores: 20-3, 39-23, 57-38, 70-52.

Third Game:

AdU 58 – Ornopia 10, Etang 9, Adeshina 8, Apag 6, Padilla 6, A. Alaba 5, E. Alaba 5, Manlimos 3, Mazo 2, Limbago 2, Agojo 2, Meniano 0, Bajo 0, Delos Santos 0, Cortez 0, Trabado 0. 

Ateneo 52 – Dela Rosa 15, Calago 13, Makanjuola 11, Villacruz 6, Oani 3, Batongbakal 2, Eufemiano 2, Cruza 0, Cancio 0, Olivenza 0, Lopez 0, Angala 0, Aguirre 0. 

Quarterscores: 19-13, 33-28, 47-39, 58-52.

Fourth Game:

UP 65 – Nolasco 14, Pesquera 14, Ozar 13, Maw 9, Tapawan 4, Solitario 3, Mendoza 2, Jimenez 2, Vingno 2, Sauz 1, Quinquinio 1, Lozada 0, Bariquit 0, Barba 0.

UE 48 – Ganade 17, Ronquillo 10, Lacayanga 6, Kone 5, Vacalares 4, Buscar 4, Lumibao 2, Dalguntas 0

Quarterscores: 13-9, 34-20, 53-37, 65-48.