THE University of the Philippines (UP), University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Far Eastern University (FEU) all won Sunday to share the early lead in Season 71 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s basketball tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The Lady Maroons defeated De La Salle, 69-60, while the Tigresses beat University of the East (UE), 67-37. The Lady Tamaraws, on the other hand, downed defending champion Ateneo, 61-47.

State U, UST and FEU are now 2-0 in the season.

Danielle Bautista led the Lady Maroons with 15 points, while Sai Sadorra contributed 14 points and eight rebounds. Camille Tomelden and Fatima Tolentino each had 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Angeli Gloriani had 20 points on six-of-11 shooting from the three-point zone for the Lady Archers, who dropped to 0-2.

Marichu Bacaro finished with a game-high 23 points for the Tigresses, who jumped to a 20-8 first-quarter lead and never looked back.

Lea Lopez had nine points for the Amazons, while Cindy Resultay had 15 rebounds to go along with her eight points.

Meanwhile, defending champion De La Salle-Zobel, UST and Ateneo paced the juniors basketball action with lopsided victories also during the weekend.

The Junior Archers trounced UE, 85-42, while Santo Tomas beat National U, 70-38. Ateneo defeated Adamson, 68-40.

FEU-Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation, on the other hand, beat University of the Philippines Integrated School, 77-35, for its first victory of the season.

Mountain Man

BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE, France—When Riccardo Ricco gets into the mountains in the Tour de France, he rides a natural high.

Gomez tops Olympiad qualifier

GRANDMASTER (GM) candidate John Paul Gomez did what he was supposed to do late Sunday: draw his 17th and final-round match with fellow International Master (IM) Rolando Nolte.

Will she or will she not?

JENNIFER Rosales finished tied for 13th and won $19,409 (about P873,000) in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic on Sunday, but may have done something much better.

THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) finally made it official that it will support the country’s quest for a slot in the 2010 International Basketball Federation (Fiba) World Championship in Turkey.

UP, 2 others unbeaten in ladies hoops

THE University of the Philippines (UP), University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Far Eastern University (FEU) all won Sunday to share the early lead in Season 71 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s basketball tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym.

Red Lions teeter before breaking backs of Stags

REIGNING champion San Beda College leaned on the steady hands of Pong Escobal in eking out an 84-83 overtime win over gritty San Sebastian College yesterday in the 84th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament at the Astrodome in Pasay City.

Tough Turf: Keenly awaited TC 3rd leg

ALTHOUGH we won’t be expecting a champion anymore this year, the third and final leg of the Triple Crown Championship Series, set on August 3 also at the Santa Ana Park, is still keenly awaited by the whole racing industry.