The FEU Lady Tamaraws forced a Final Four as they eked out a 60-58 decision over sweep-seeking Adamson Lady Falcons.
By: Geoff Latayan
Karen Columna made a twinner as time expired as the FEU Lady Tamaraws gave AdU Lady Falcons their first loss of the season by eking out a 60-58 conquest in the final game of eliminations at the Flying V Arena in San Juan City, Sept. 14.
After Adamson’s Analyn Almasan tied the ballgame at 58 with a field goal, Columna, who finished the game with six points, shot a buzzer-beating two to gave FEU its 13th win in 14 games and first place, outplacing Adamson, who were unbeaten in 13 games before losing to FEU.
Allana Lim paced FEU, who will be enjoying a twice-to-beat edge as they face fourth-place La Salle in the Final Four on Sept. 18, with 26 points and 10 rebounds while Raiza Palmera and Marilourd Borja added 16 and 10 points respectively.
Almasan and Katherine Sandel led Adamson, who will be up against UST in the other Final Four tiff, with 15 points. Anna Buendia was the other double-figure scorer for the Lady Falcons with 12 points.
An Adamson win could have gave them an automatic finals seat and forced a stepladder round for FEU, UST and DLSU.
In other games, UST annexed third place as they demolished DLSU, 67-58. Rina Laud exploded for 19 points to lead UST. The Lady Tigers (9-5) gained third place by having a superior quotient over the Lady Archers (9-5). Kady Wilson came off the bench to lead La Salle in scoring with 12 markers.
Meanwhile, National U and UP salvaged some pride as they massacred their foes in broad daylight.
Carmela Laquindanum was monstrous for the Lady Bulldogs as she pulled down 27 of National U’s 57 rebounds along with 15 points to crush Ateneo, 67-44 to end their UAAP Season 73 campaign with a 4-10 record.
In the first game, the UP Lady Maroons gave UE another sound beating with a 102-55 trampling. Nina Stevens led three others in double figures with 19 points as they won their fourth in 14 matches and forced UE to suffer another 0-14 season.
Dianne Ventura led UE, who were also winless last season, with 22 points.
