Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws stepped down to a 3-6 standing, 55-76, after stumbling at the hands of the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s basketball tournament today, October 28, at the Adamson Gymnasium in Manila City. 

FEU's bench went for a good start in the first quarter of the game with Julienne Manguiat’s three-point kill.

The Morayta cagebells struggled leading the skid during the second half of the quarter, after possessing numerous pushing fouls in the ballgame, 10-19.

Head Coach Bert Flores pointed out to the Lady Tams to mainly focus on their defense mechanism despite the clash in the arena.

In a postgame interview with FEU Advocate, Coach Bert shared what the team lacked during the tourney against the Bulldogs and the strategies that needed to improve to attain their fourth win. 

"Yung turnovers talaga tumalo sa amin. Kaya kailangan talaga namin i-improve 'yung box out, kasi malalaki 'yung mga kalaban. Pati 'yung defense mechanism kailangan din talaga i-improve at saka 'yung communication (The turnovers really beat us. So we really need to improve the box out, because the opponents are big, also the defense mechanism really needs to be improved and also the communication)" he stated.

The green and gold squad recovered in the second quarter, after gaining the opportunity to bounce back from the NU’s several fouls.

Team Captain Jamerin Delos Santos, attempted to rise up from the downfall by clinching multiple attacks by concluding the first half, 23-37.

During the second half of the rally, Josee Kaputu dug deeper to leg up the team from the skid by firing guns throughout the game.

Meanwhile, Delos Santos mentioned their strategy to maintain their focus on winning the match.

"Yung napag-usapan kasi namin after first half, sabi ni coach Bert, na kahit babaan lang namin 'yung lamang, hindi naman tambak. Kailangan lang talaga namin mag-focus ulit at bawasan 'yung turnover at i-execute lang po yung play namin, and 'yun, mag-communication kami sa defense (What we talked about after the first half, coach Bert said, is that even if we just lower the ball, it's not a pile. We just really need to focus again and reduce the turnover and just execute our play, and that's it, we'll communicate on the defense)" she said. 

Luck was on Morayta after the NU Bulldogs’ attacks went down from producing multiple travel calls, but failed to end the second half with a close lead to the romp, 55-76.

FEU Lady Tams will attempt to clinch the fourth win against DLSU Lady Archers on November 4 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

-Paula Jasmine Bronoza

(Photo by Rafael Latoza/FEU Advocate)