It's another perfect season for the National University Lady Bulldogs.”‹
Congo cager Rhena Itesi fired a game-high 17 points and hauled down 10 rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs in putting away the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, 67-61, yesterday for their fifth straight crown at the Araneta Coliseum.
Itesi’s heroics in the second period sparked a big scoring run that gave them another title after Game 2 the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s basketball tournament.
Jack Danielle Animam added 15 points, 21 rebounds, four blocks and two assists for the Lady Bulldogs, who completed a 16-game sweep this season.
Ria Nabalan contributed 11 points in the Lady Bulldogs’ effort to stretch their winning to 80 since 2013.
“Amazing to be a part of it. It’s outrageous, wonderful, unbelievable. Talagang I was just trying to enjoy every moment of it,” said Lady Bulldogs’ coach Pat Aquino.
The Lady Bulldogs took control early after Jeanne Camelo scored on a triple that sparked a 21-0 run at the start of the third period.
With Animam and Itesi taking turns in scoring inside and outside the shaded lane, the Lady Bulldogs went on to post a 39-16 spread in the last 2:12.
The Lady Bulldogs’ winning run is considered as the longest active winning streak in any sport in the league.
Fatima Quiapo had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Clare Castro, only had six points, but she made up for this with 13 rebounds and four blocks for FEU.
University of Santo Tomas’ Grace Irebu of Congo formally received the season’s Most Valuable Player honors
Irebu’s teammates Sai Larosa, Animam, Castro and Adamson’s Nathalie Prado were named in the Mythical Five. University of Santo Tomas’ Renalyn Ferrer claimed the Rookie of the Year plum.
The scores:
NU (67)—Itesi 17, Animam 15, Nabalan 11, Pingol 8, Camelo 8, Del Carmen 7, Canuto 1, Fabruada 0, Layug 0, Cacho 0, Goto 0.
FEU (61)—Quiapo 15, Adriano 9, Mamaril 8, Bahuyan 7, Castro 6, Taguiam 6, Antiola 6, Bastatas 2, Payadon 2, Vidal 0.
Quarterscores: 18-16, 41-25, 54-44, 67-61