Without Favour, UP notches first win and gets ready for NU clash
On a day when National University (NU) zoomed to a share of the lead, University of the Philippines (UP) found its footing.
The Maroons, still playing without key big Favour Onoh, hammered University of the East’s Lady Warriors, 67-43, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
UP coach Paul Ramos wants to “move on to the next” instead of lingering in the celebration of a first win.
And for good reason.
The Maroons face NU on Wednesday and—at least in varsity hoops—the Lady Bulldogs need little introduction.
“You know, NU is already a staple in women’s basketball,” Ramos said. “[Y]ou can say anything you want before the game to motivate [your team] or that this team (NU) is beatable, but I feel NU has earned that respect, that every time you play against them, you really have to be at your best.”
The Lady Bulldogs certainly backed up that status as they raced to an early lead on the way to a 91-64 rout of Far Eastern University in an earlier game.
Clarin leads
NU grabbed a share of the lead at 2-0 (win-loss) with Camille Clarin and Cielo Pagdulagan leading the way.
“We always ask our team to improve daily—every practice, every game. I thought we did a great job today, particularly in our free throw shooting, assists, and ball management,” NU coach Aris Dimaunahan told reporters after the match.
Clarin led NU with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. Pagdulagan, a rookie, had 12 points, five rebounds and two steals while Angel Surada and Tin Cayabyab punched in 11 points each.
Ramos and the Maroons will have their work cut out for him against the Lady Bulldogs, but this early, UP knows how to approach that matchup.
“[W]e don’t focus on them (Lady Bulldogs),” Ramos, whose team notched a victory over NU last season, said. “We just focus on our performance. If we can outperform how we played last season, [that would be great] because we don’t have a 20-rebounds-a-game girl in the middle, so hopefully we can get out with a win again this season.”
Achrissa Maw, one of those expected to fill the void left by Onoh, who is out due to an ACL injury, echoed her coach’s sentiments.
“Like coach Paul said, we don’t look at the team that we will face … Whether that’s UST (University of Santo Tomas) or NU, we just have to perform,” Maw, who led UP with 18 points, said.
Camille Nolasco, who had nine points against UE, agreed.
“We give our best each time [we play] and we always treat every opponent equally. We respect each and every opponent,” Nolasco said. INQ
Controlling nature