UNIVERSITY of the East (UE) and Centro Escolar University (CEU) scored contrasting victories to remain on track in the quarterfinals of the Breakdown Basketball Invitationals Women’s Under-25 tournament recently at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.
The Lady Red Warriors survived the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Fighting Maroons, 57-49, in a close match that saw eight lead changes and three deadlocks.
CEU, even with their graduation of many of its stars of recent years, had enough firepower to pummel College of Saint Benilde, 57-36.
Princess Pedrigosa led UE with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Christine Cortizano added 17. Gene Amar topscored for UP with 13 points.
After Gene Amar hit a triple to give UP a 36-35 lead at the 4:26 mark of the third quarter, UE underscored its strength off the boards by grabbing three offensive rebounds and taking three attempts.
One stop later, Pedrigosa buried a triple to give the Lady Red Warriors a 38-36 lead they would not surrender.
Mercy Lawan led CEU with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Rica Parungao paced Saint Benilde with nine points.
UE will face De La Salle in the semifinals on Sunday at 12:30 p.m., while Far Eastern University and CEU square off in the other final four matchup at 2 p.m. also at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.