FEU, La Salle prevail

We had a good start and the good thing is our rookies have the confidence to play defense and get their rhythm

Far Eastern University (FEU) and De La Salle University routed their respective rivals to pocket their second win in Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Tamaraws shook off a poor start and hammered a 79-64 win over Ateneo while the Lady Archers rode on Kent Pastrana in drubbing University of the East (UE), 91-58.

The highly-touted La Salle rookie out of Silay City poured 20 points, three rebounds, and three assists as the Lady Archers slowly ran away with the game after taking a 10-point lead, 26-16, after the first quarter.

Fellow neophyte Vea Malarde joined her in the mugging with 15 points and three assists, while sophomore Angel Quingco had 14 points, seven boards, and two blocks.

“We had a good start and the good thing is our rookies have the confidence to play defense and get their rhythm,” said coach Cholo Villanueva, whose wards improved to 2-2.

Meanwhile, Choy Bahuyan led the Lady Tamaraws’ 21-2 assault that flipped the game from a 45-38 deficit to a 59-47 lead entering the fourth period.

Bahuyan went for 15 points, seven rebounds, and two assists as she helped FEU erect a lead as much as 28, 78-50, with 3:10 remaining.