NATIONAL University (NU) completed a clean sweep of the season with a 59-48 triumph over Far Eastern University (FEU) to claim its first-ever University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s basketball crown on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Bulldogs, who last the title to De La Salle last season, were led by Finals Most Valuable Player and season mythical five member Gemma Miranda, who wound up with 14 points and eight rebounds in the contest.
But it was pint-sized shooter Trixie Antiquiera who punched through the biggest points of the match, hitting back-to-back treys including a four-point play off a Jackie Tanaman foul to muff FEU’s last gasp.
Antiquiera finished with 12 points on three-for-eight shooting from long distance, while Andrea Tongco also wound up with 12 markers and three steals.
“I just told them to concentrate on their execution. Nagmamadali kasi sila palagi. So, I told them to execute well, there’s always someone who’s always open kasi dino-double kayo palagi, lalo na si Afril [Bernardino]. So when you swing that ball from one side to the other, may nalilibre,” said NU Head Coach Patrick Aquino, who has been with the team since 2010.
Aquino added that he gave Antiquiera the green light and the confidence to hoist treys without thinking twice prior to the game, in which she delivered with the knockout blow that stopped FEU’s 7-0 blast to cut down their advantage from nine points to just two, 49-47, with 3:03 left in the game.
“I told Trixie before the game started na when you get that ball, you don’t have to dribble just take that shot. Kasi naghe-hesitate siya palagi. Sinabi ko na stay in that corner and take that shot and palagay ko makukuha mo ‘yan,” he said.
NU was a team in a mission this year after its heartbreaking defeat to the Lady Archers and Aquino said the defeat made them stronger as a team.
“Just two days after our heartbreaking loss in the finals to La Salle last year, I said that let’s start the preparations for next year already. We have a mission to fulfill para lang sa atin and for the school na sumuporta the whole year. Eventually, nagawa namin,” Aquino said.
Ana Valenzona fired 14 points and gathered six rebounds. Jackie Tanaman added 10 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, while April Siat contributed 10 points and nine rebounds for the Lady Tamaraws, who had to go through four consecutive do-or-die games to enter the finals.
The Lady Bulldogs will be favorites to repeat again next season with only Camilla Escoto graduating from the team.
Image credits: Alysa Salen