National University Dominates UE to Close UAAP Women’s Basketball First Round

National University solidified its position as a top contender in the UAAP women’s basketball tournament by defeating the University of the East 83-54 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday. The victory marked the Lady Bulldogs’ seventh game, lifting their record to 6-1 and securing second place in the standings.

Karl Ann Pingol led the charge for NU with an impressive stat line of 25 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and two assists. NU’s momentum surged in the second quarter thanks to an aggressive 19-6 run featuring contributions from Pingol, Angel Surada, Kristine Cayabyab, and Aloha Betanio, pushing the Lady Bulldogs to a 41-26 halftime lead.

Coach Da Olan acknowledged the team’s slow start but expressed optimism about their resilience going forward. "We’re happy with our standing, but we had a rough beginning in this game," he said. "It’s promising that we bounced back in the second quarter and maintained that effort, but I hope we don’t start slow in the second round."

Kristine Cayabyab posted 19 points along with eight steals, seven assists, and five rebounds, while Angel Surada added 10 points and dominated the boards with 15 rebounds.

For the Lady Warriors, Moana Vacalares led all scorers with 18 points complemented by seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Rachel Lacayanga contributed 13 points and six rebounds, and Mhariko Gullim had eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Looking ahead, University of the East will face the Adamson University Lady Falcons on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Meanwhile, National University will take on Ateneo de Manila University on Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.