By Aimerose C. Atienza

Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws crumbled on a narrow loss against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, 58-65, despite Danica Pacia’s 16-point output in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 women’s basketball tourney first round eliminations held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City today, October 15.

Pacia also chipped in nine boards and three steals with a 41.7% shooting rate from the field.

FEU Team Captain Camille Taguiam added 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while prized rookie Kyla Go was limited to a single-digit game with nine markers and six boards.

In a post-game interview with FEU Advocate, Pacia mentioned that her individual production simply came off as a bonus for her and the team. 

“Bonus lang ‘yun samin ‘yung puntos, ‘di namin tinitingnan ‘yung puntos [kasi ang] tinitingnan namin kung paano kami dedepensa nang maayos at paano namin i-eexecute ‘yung sinasabi ng mga coaches (The points are just a bonus for us, we don’t look at the points [because what] we look at is how we will defend well and how we will execute what our coaches are saying),” Pacia said.

Both teams had a back-and-forth affair early in the match with the Lady Tams leading by as much as six points until the Taft-based squad created a mini run to snatch the lead at the end of the first half, 35-40.

The Morayta dribblers kept a close fight until the final canto, but the Lady Archers pulled away in the last two minutes of the game to give FEU their fourth defeat of the season.

Veteran cagebelle Taguiam also said during the post-game interview that they took the defeat lightly and they hope to go back to the winning column in their next games.

“Mas gumaan din ‘yung laro dahil kumpleto ulit kami and ‘yung hope namin ngayon is makabalik, especially ‘yung winning [capability] namin, sana makakuha kami ng panalo (The game felt lighter because we are complete again and our hope now is to get back, especially with our winning [capability], we can hopefully get a win),” Taguiam stated.

The rookie-laden Lady Tamaraws now sport a 1-4 win-loss record and will try to capture their second victory against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses on Wednesday, October 19 at the same venue.