Ateneo rips Adamson, inches closer to finals

Ateneo de Manila University produced a telling fourth-quarter rally to oust Adamson University, 66-56, and advance to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 88 Women’s Basketball stepladder semifinals on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

After three consecutive fourth-place finishes, the Blue Eagles are finally assured of a podium spot.

Up next for Ateneo is defending champion and No. 2 seed National University (NU) in another knockout stepladder semifinal at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Blue Eagles, who last reached the Finals in Season 78 (2015) dropped both elimination-round meetings to the Lady Bulldogs, 79-83 in the first round and 47-69 in the second.

University of Santo Tomas (UST) awaits in the Finals after completing a perfect 14-0 sweep of the eliminations.

“I just wanted to prove to NU that we can also compete on that level,” said Ateneo scorer Kacey dela Rosa.

After years of heartbreaking fourth-place finishes, Dela Rosa is hungrier than ever to finally reach the Finals.

Leading by just six entering the final frame, the Blue Eagles opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 blitz to build a 17-point lead with six minutes left, 65-48.

Dela Rosa teamed up with Kate Cancio, Camille Malagar, and Kai Oani during the run that left the Lady Falcons reeling.

In juniors plays, Dwyne Enriquez and Prince Cariño steadied Far Eastern University (FEU)-Diliman against every Adamson University second-half surge, steering the Baby Tamaraws to a wire-to-wire 90-76 victory and into the stepladder semifinals.

The third-seeded Baby Tamaraws will take on the No. 2 University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

FEU-D dropped both of its elimination-round matchups against UST, including a 108-70 blowout in the second round.