Games Saturday
(UST Quadricentennial Pavilion)
7:30 a.m. – UE vs UST (16U)
9:30 a.m. – UP vs NU (16U)
12 p.m. – UE vs UST (women’s)
2 p.m. – UE vs UST (men’s)
4:30 p.m. – UP vs NU (men’s)
7 p.m. – UP vs NU (women’s)
By MARK REY MONTEJO
MJ Manguiat, displaying iron will, drained a game-winning triple to lead Far Eastern University past La Salle, 73-72, for its first win in the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Wednesday, Oct. 1.
In dramatic turn of events, Manguiat knotted the count at 70-all but Nigerian center Jimoh Nosifat responded with a layup to give the Lady Archers a 72-70 cushion.
Two missed free throws by Xyla Lubrico gave FEU another chance, and Manguiat seized the moment, sprinting down the floor and, with a shooter’s bounce, buried the decisive three-pointer that handed FEU the lead with just two seconds remaining.
With the win, FEU improved its card to 1-1 thanks to Manguiat, who registered 16 points, two rebounds, and two assists, while La Salle fell to 0-2 hole which they could avoid if Xyla Lubrico hit her two freebies that occurred prior to Jimoh Nosifat’s layup.
“Inisip ko lang din yung sakit na naramdaman namin last year [and] nandoon na kami ‘eh, may chance na kami last year, pero dahil nga hindi namin nakuha, this year babawi kami,” said Manguiat, a fourth-year guard out of FEU High School.
“Relieved because the last play na naka-convert ang La Salle and lumamang sila ng two points was because of [Manguiat] gambling on defense,” FEU head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy added. “Medyo male-lessen yung galit ko sa kanya sa dugout but in any way, thankful kami na nakuha namin yung first win namin today.”
Lubrico topscored for the Lady Archers with 16 points, while Kyla Go was two rebounds shy of a double-double after listing 10 points and eight rebounds.
Write to RV C. Lachica
